JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Cornell's men's basketball team made a strong statement in Wednesday's Midwest Conference opener with a 71-67 road win over two-time defending MWC champion and preseason favorite Illinois College at Sherman Gymnasium.
 
The Rams (5-2 overall, 1-0 MWC) drained 13 3-pointers and finished off the Blueboys (5-2 overall, 0-1 MWC) with a 12-4 game-ending run. They secured their first series win in Jacksonville, Ill., since the 2014-15 season, snapping a 10-game road slide.
 
Illinois College entered the contest receiving national votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll.
 
Newcomers Keon Talgo, Caleb Leslie and Arnav Jain provided a big boost with 14 points apiece, all establishing new scoring highs as Rams. The trio filled it up from long range, hitting 11-of-17 3-point attempts collectively.
 
Leslie tallied 11 of his points after intermission, including three consecutive free throws that put the Rams ahead to stay at 67-65 with 1:21 remaining. Leslie sank two more free throws with three seconds left to seal the victory.
 
Jain scored all 14 of his points in the second half, shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Talgo kept the Rams in the game early with four 3-pointers in the opening half.
 
The Rams received 34 points from their bench with help from Jain and Leslie.
 
Cornell overcame a nine-point deficit early in the second half. The Rams put up 43 points after intermission against the MWC's No. 1 scoring defense (61.3 ppg).    
 
Zach Ingle chipped in 10 points and six rebounds. Dylan Hurley totaled six points, six assists and a team-high eight rebounds. Jayden Meeker had seven points, six rebounds and four steals.
 
Coming up – The Rams are home Saturday to face Lake Forest (3-4 overall, 0-1 MWC) at 3 p.m. in the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.