MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's 51-point second half wasn't enough to overcome a large deficit at the break in Saturday's 85-77 Midwest Conference men's basketball loss to hot-shooting Lawrence inside the Small Sport Center.
 
The Rams (14-7 overall, 9-3 MWC) dropped out of first place by percentage points to Ripon (10-3 MWC) with a full week of basketball ahead to close the regular season.
 
Cornell gets a quick rematch with Lawrence (10-12 overall, 7-6 MWC) at 3 p.m. Sunday in Appleton, Wis. The Rams visit Monmouth Tuesday, and then host Grinnell Thursday and Beloit next Saturday, Feb. 19.
 
With 12 points Saturday, senior forward Cooper Kabela passed Corey Davis (1,494 points, 2014-18) for second place on Cornell's career scoring list. Kabela raised his point total to 1,499, now trailing only Griffin LaDew (1,561 points, 2005-09).
 
Kabela registered his 538th career made field goal, breaking the long-standing school record of 537 held by Chad Wisco (1975-79).
 
Marcus Quirk tossed in a season-high 24 points and Jordan Magnani netted 15 of his 19 points after intermission as the Rams charged back from a 45-26 halftime hole. Quirk recorded his 100th made 3-point goal, draining four against the Vikings.  
 
Cornell opened the second half with a 23-7 spurt and cut the margin to 58-56 on a Logan Sharp bucket with 9:08 remaining. Lawrence, which made 14 3-pointers on 28 tries, never let its lead completely slip away and held on in the end.
 
The Vikings rode the hot hand of Matthew Kaznikov, who hit seven 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 27 points. MWC scoring leader Brad Sendell had 29 points and 10 assists for Lawrence.
 
Sharp collected seven points and a game-high nine rebounds for Cornell. Quirk had six rebounds and two blocked shots. Magnani and Kabela distributed four assists apiece.