GRINNELL – Cornell held the nation's top-ranked scoring offense 20 points under its season average in Wednesday's 98-84 men's basketball loss to Midwest Conference leader Grinnell inside Darby Gymnasium.
 
The Rams (2-7 overall, 0-3 MWC) kept pace most of the way with the Pioneers (8-1, 4-0), who reeled off their eighth consecutive victory. Cornell led 52-51 at intermission, and despite a six-minute scoring drought to start the second half, had the Pioneers in a one-possession game with 11 minutes to go.
 
Grinnell pushed forward with a 15-4 run down the stretch to build a 79-66 lead and didn't look back. The Pioneers prevailed for only the second time in the last six meetings with Cornell.  
 
Junior Charlie Robinson came off the bench and tossed in a career-high 19 points to lead four Cornell scorers in double figures. Jaxson Herring equaled his best scoring total as a Ram with 16 points, while Jayden Meeker and Dylan Hurley added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Robinson buried three 3-point goals and went 6-of-7 from the foul line. The Rams hit 19-of-23 free throws on the night.
 
Hurley dished five assists. The Rams received five rebounds apiece from Herring and freshman Max Markgraf.
 
The Pioneers shot 14-of-40 from 3-point land and got 53 points from their bench. Gabe Garcia led Grinnell with 29 points.  
 
Coming up – The Rams play host to Beloit (6-2 overall, 3-0 MWC) at 1 p.m. Saturday inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.