MOUNT VERNON – Cornell junior Dylan Hurley notched his second consecutive 20-point game, although the Rams couldn't keep pace with hot-shooting Illinois College in Tuesday's 83-56 Midwest Conference-opening men's basketball loss inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
In a rematch of last year's MWC title game, the defending champion Blueboys (6-0 overall, 1-0 MWC) took control late in the first half and never gave back momentum to remain undefeated on the season.
 
Hurley paced the Rams (2-5 overall, 1-0 MWC) with 22 points behind 8-of-14 shooting from the field. Zach Ingle added 19 points and seven rebounds for Cornell, which saw Illinois College break away with an 11-0 scoring run just before intermission.
 
Illinois College, which is receiving votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, built a 35-20 lead at halftime and then closed out the game with 58.3-percent shooting in the second half.
 
The Rams connected on eight 3-point goals, including four from Ingle. Connor Barnett collected four steals. Jaxson Herring had six rebounds and James Stimson provided six points off Cornell's bench.
 
Cornell was held to 33.9-percent shooting and got outrebounded, 42-34.
 
Fifth-year Jake Mazrimas carried the Blueboys with 28 points and 16 rebounds.  
 
Coming up – The Rams are on the road Saturday for a 1 p.m. matchup against Lake Forest (2-5 overall, 0-2 MWC) in Lake Forest, Ill.