MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's basketball team endured a tough first half against rival Coe Monday night, falling 78-62 in the home opener inside the Small Sport Center.
 
The Rams (1-1) gave up nine unanswered points to start the game before Logan Sharp converted a putback nearly three minutes in, setting off the traditional toilet paper toss by Cornell's student section.  
  
Cornell erased the early deficit, but then got hit with a 14-2 run by the Kohawks (2-0) later in the first half and went to the locker room down 42-28 at the break. Coe played with a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
 
The Kohawks gained one point in the 2021-22 Bremner Cup All-Sport Series, which they now lead 4-3.
 
Cornell's Marcus Quirk, who earlier in the day was named the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week, continued his fine play with 16 points and eight rebounds to pace the Rams in both categories. The senior forward shot 7-of-11 from the field and sank a pair of 3-pointers.
 
Junior newcomer Izic Mackey provided a boost of the bench with 11 points and four rebounds in only 15 minutes. Sharp finished with 10 points and seven boards. Jordan Magnani and Jayden Meeker added six points apiece.  
 
The Rams were held to 41.1-percent shooting and turned the ball over 16 times, which Coe converted into 24 points. The Kohawks shot it at a 49.2-percent clip for the game and held a 39-34 rebounding advantage.
 
Cornell is back home Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff against Wartburg.