MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's young men's basketball team has gotten an early taste of big-time competition, which included Wednesday night's 108-63 loss to Dubuque inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The Rams (0-4) have now lost to four opponents – three of them still undefeated – with a combined 15-1 record. Dubuque (3-0) is the defending American Rivers Conference champion and preseason favorite to repeat.
 
Cornell pulled within 23-19 midway through the first half on a conventional 3-point play by freshman Joseph Hudson. After that it was all Spartans, who built a 56-30 lead at the break and then put up 52 points in the second half.
 
Senior Caleb Leslie paced the Rams with 16 points, going 4-for-7 from 3-point range. Jude Weaver netted nine points, Nebil Mohammed eight and Keon Talgo seven. Weaver led the team with seven rebounds.
 
Grady Thompson finished with 28 points to guide Dubuque, which shot 54.2 percent from the field and held a 51-27 advantage on the boards.
 
Thirty-two players saw action in the nonconference contest.
 
Coming up – Cornell travels to play Central (3-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in Pella.