MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's basketball team battled two-time defending Midwest Conference champion Illinois College down to the wire in Tuesday's 73-70 setback inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The Rams (12-6 overall, 6-3 MWC) and Illinois College (14-5 overall, 7-3 MWC) are now among three teams with three league losses pursuing Monmouth (8-2 MWC) for the conference crown. Cornell beat Illinois College in early December, 71-67.  
 
Cornell senior guard Jayden Meeker continued his offensive tear with a game-high 28 points, shooting 10-of-15 from the field and 7-of-8 from the foul line. He led all players with 13 rebounds for his third double-double-in four games. Meeker also dished six assists.
 
Senior Zach Ingle netted 17 points and passed Jeff Ecker (2002-06) for No. 3 on Cornell's career list for made 3-point goals with 207. Ingle finished with three 3-pointers in the game, including a trey that gave the Rams their biggest lead of the night at 57-50 with 9:06 remaining.
 
A free throw by Cornell's Dylan Hurley knotted the score at 64-64 with less than three minutes to go. The Blueboys answered with a bucket on the ensuing possession and didn't relinquish the lead the rest of the way. Illinois College made just enough free throws (5-for-8) down the stretch.
 
Cornell trimmed a 14-point first half deficit to 33-27 at intermission. The Rams gained control briefly with a 12-0 scoring run midway through the second half.
 
Hurley handed out a game-high seven assists for the Rams. Keon Talgo and Caleb Lesley pitched in nine and eight points, respectively.
 
Meeker led Cornell's 14-of-18 performance from the free throw line, while Illinois College went 11-of-20. Buzz Ritzel paced Illinois College with 21 points.
 
Coming up – The Rams are home Saturday to face Ripon (8-10 overall, 5-4 MWC) at 3 p.m.