ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell men's basketball team rewrote the record book, closing its non-conference record at 8-8 after a thoroughly dominant 107-29 victory over Division III foe Alfred State on Saturday afternoon at Newman Arena. The Big Red opens Ivy League play next weekend at home against Columbia.

Cornell's 107 points made for the seventh-highest total in school history and the most in 22 years. Its field goals made (36), 3-point field goals made (14), assists (27) and steals (16) totals all ranked among the top 20 single-game marks in more than 100 years of Big Red basketball. 

Shonn Miller and Devin Cherry each led the way with 18 points, with Miller adding four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block and Cherry dishing six assists, grabbing five boards and collecting a steal. Robert Hatter was also in double figures (13 points) and chipped in four steals and three assists. Cornell shot 49 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range (14-of-28), ourebounded the Pioneers 47-31 and had 27 assists and just four turnovers. But for all the offensive numbers, it was still a Cornell defensive masterpiece.

Cornell held the Pioneers to 29 points, the fewest surrendered in a contest since Sampson Naval Hospital scored 29 in a 68-29 Big Red victory on Dec. 1, 1945. It allowed Alfred State to shoot just 21 percent overall, 17 percent from beyond the arc and forced 29 turnovers - scoring an amazing 46 points off those miscues.

The 78-point margin of victory was the largest for the Big Red in any game in school history, besting an 82-11 victory over Rome Air Force Base to open the 1943-44 season. With the win, Cornell closed the non-conference season with eight wins, tied for the fifth-most in a single season in Big Red history and the most under head coach Bill Courtney.

By every measure, Cornell dominated the game, scoring more than 50 points in each half and never allowing more than 17. Everyone got into the action, as 14 of the 15 players that dressed scored and everyone played between seven and 23 minutes. Senior Galal Cancer had nine points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block and Robert Mischler also scored nine, including a pair of 3-pointers. Freshmen Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof (eight points) and Pat Smith (seven points, three assists) each netted career highs, while classmate Kyle Brown dotted the scorebook for the first time in his career with a 3-pointer. Desmond Fleming had four points, four assists, a steal and a rebound in just eight minutes, JoJo Fallas and Ned Tomic each had six points and Wil Bathurst notched three points, five rebounds and a steal. Darryl Smith had two points, four rebounds, an assist and a block while providing lockdown defense. Though big men David Onuorah and Deion Giddens combined for just one point, the duo had 11 rebounds and two blocked shots while patrolling the paint.

Making a long story short, everyone contributed.

The first two minutes showed that it would be a fast-paced track meet, though Alfred State was able to beat the Big Red with a pair of backdoor laups to stay within 8-6. Cherry hit a 3-pointer a minute later to trigger an 18-0 run over the next 4:38, one of several huge spurts Cornell put on the Pioneers. By the end of it, which featured five points from Hatter and a pair of 3-pointers by Fallas, Cornell led 26-6. It only got worse for Alfred State.

The lead gradually grew and it was 39-17 with four minutes to play before Cornell closed the half on a 14-0 run that featured a couple alley-oops to Miller and five points from Pat Smith and it was 53-17 at the break.

Tyler Elliott, who had four points and a game-high nine rebounds for Alfred State, got the first bucket of the second half for the visitors, but it would be their only points for nearly eight minutes as the Big Red sprinted to another huge run, this time to the tune of 24-0. By the time Devin Cherry completed a traditional three-point play, Cornell had the game well in hand at 78-19 and still 11:16 to play.

Both teams were able to get everyone on the roster touches, though Cornell continued its onslaught. A 20-1 run by the reserves highlighted the Big Red's relentless effort. The home team broke the 100-point barrier for the 20th time in school history when Fleming hit a free throw with 2:46 remaining for the final milestone.

The Big Red will open the Ivy League's 14-game tournament on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 4:30 p.m. when it meets Columbia at Newman Arena.