CEDAR RAPIDS – Cornell's valiant second-half comeback was stopped on the game's final possession in Wednesday's 68-67 season-opening men's basketball loss to rival Coe inside Kohawk Arena.
 
Playing its first official contest since last year's NCAA Tournament, Cornell (0-1) trailed 41-28 at halftime and fell behind by 17 points with 15:48 to go in regulation. The Rams charged back in it with a 17-4 spurt and gave themselves a chance at the end.
 
A Zach Ingle 3-pointer knotted the contest at 62-62. After a pair of Coe free throws, Jayden Meeker converted a conventional 3-point play that pulled the Rams ahead 65-64.
 
Logan Sharp's offensive rebound and putback gave Cornell its last lead at 67-66 with 45 seconds to go. The Kohawks (1-0) pushed back in front, 68-67, on a driving basket with 12 seconds remaining.
 
Cornell's shot in the lane to win it was blocked just before time expired and the Kohawks escaped.
 
The Kohawks earned a point in the 2022-23 Bremner Cup All-Sports Series and now lead the head-to-head competition, 5-2.
 
Cornell's all-conference guard Jordan Magnani led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field. The fifth-year senior also collected five rebounds, four steals and three assists.
 
Ingle drained four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Meeker tallied 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Logan Sharp added eight points and six boards.
 
The Rams limited Coe to 31.4-percent shooting in the second half.
 
Coming up – The Rams take on Eureka for Sunday's home opener inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center. Tipoff is 2 p.m.