WAVERLY – Two clutch 3-point buckets late in overtime propelled Cornell's men's basketball team to a 75-73 victory over national-votes getter UW-Whitewater in Friday's opening round of the Buzz Levick Classic at Levick Arena.
 
The Rams (2-1) carry momentum into Saturday's championship game at 4 p.m. against host Wartburg (2-0), which won 73-60 over St. Olaf on Friday.  
 
Cornell overcame a 73-69 deficit with less than two minutes to go in overtime against the Warhawks (1-1), only two years removed from a Final Four appearance.
 
Junior Nate Jacobson buried a 3-pointer that brought the Rams within 73-72. On Cornell's next offensive trip, junior newcomer Jaylan Bradberry sank a clutch three from the wing with 1:22 remaining that held up as the game-winner.
 
The Rams got two defensive stops at the end to claim the neutral-site victory.
 
Jacobson gave the Rams a big boost off the bench, netting 18 points – two shy of his Cornell high – in 24 minutes. He shot 7-of-12 from the field with four 3-point goals.
 
Zach Ingle tossed in a game-high 22 points and also drained four 3-pointers. Jayden Meeker delivered 10 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. Connor Barnett tallied nine points and four assists in a reserve role.
 
The Rams played with the lead for most of the contest. They built their biggest margin at 36-25 on a Bradberry jumper early in the second half.