INDIANOLA – Cornell's men's basketball team stormed back from a 10-point second-half deficit to claim a 79-71 victory over American Rivers Conference foe Simpson Thursday night at Cowles Fieldhouse.
 
Coach Dave Schlabaugh's Rams head into the holiday break at 8-3 overall, marking the program's best pre-Christmas record since starting 9-1 in the 2009-10 season.
 
Playing without key starter Dylan Hurley, Cornell received career-high scoring games from freshman Keon Talgo (19 points) and senior reserve Connor Barnett (16 points). The Rams rallied for 48 points in the second half, 14 coming from Barnett who finished an efficient 7-of-8 shooting from the field while making both of his free throw attempts.
 
Talgo knocked down five 3-pointers and also grabbed five rebounds. Jayden Meeker tossed in a team-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
Caleb Leslie was Cornell's fourth double-digit scorer, delivering 10 points off the bench.  
 
The Rams closed out the contest on a 20-10 run. Talgo's 3-pointer put the Rams ahead to stay at 67-64 with 5:49 remaining.
 
Cornell sank 14-of-18 free throws in the second half, after attempting just one foul shot in the opening 20 minutes. Simpson (2-8) finished 3-of-6 from the charity stripe.
 
Senior Zach Ingle buried his 187th career 3-point goal, jumping Jordan Magnani (2018-23) for No. 4 on Cornell's all-time list.
 
Coming up – The Rams are back in action Dec. 28 with a 3 p.m. home game against North Park.