INDIANOLA – Jordan Magnani poured in 35 points and leaped into the Top 10 on Cornell's all-time scoring list in Wednesday's 74-66 men's basketball loss to Simpson inside Cowles Fieldhouse.
 
Magnani set a new scoring high in his 91st career game with the Rams (1-2). The fifth-year guard connected on 11 field goals – including a pair of 3-pointers – and sank 11-of-12 free throws. Magnani had 19 points by halftime.
 
Magnani passed Cornell greats Abe Tubbs (1991-94), Mark Christoffersen (1986-89) and Luke Feddersen (1999-03) for ninth place on the program's points list with 1,273.
 
The Rams needed Magnani to shoulder the scoring load with regular starters Zach Ingle and Jayden Meeker unavailable against the Storm (4-0). Sophomore Julian Cleary provided a boost off the bench with 14 points and five rebounds. Izic Mackey netted 11 points in a reserve role.
 
Cornell beat Simpson on the boards, 40-31, with Logan Sharp pulling down a game-high eight rebounds. Logan Christensen added seven rebounds.
 
The Rams finished 17-of-19 shooting from the foul line, which included a 6-for-6 effort by Mackey.
 
The Rams trailed 35-30 at the break and pulled within 50-49 on a Magnani free throw with 10:19 left in regulation. Simpson answered with a 13-2 spurt over the next four minutes and didn't look back.
 
Coming up – The Rams compete at Wartburg's Buzz Levick Tournament this weekend in Waverly. Cornell opens against 15th-ranked UW-La Crosse at 6 p.m. Friday.