MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's basketball team rallied from an 18-point first-half deficit, although couldn't complete a monumental comeback in a tough 67-62 Midwest Conference loss to Beloit Saturday inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The Rams (13-8 overall, 7-5 MWC) dipped into a tie for fourth place in the MWC with Ripon, which hosts Cornell next week. Four games remain in the regular season.  
 
Cornell climbed out of the sizeable hole momentarily against Beloit (7-14 overall, 3-10 MWC), taking its first lead of the game at 56-54 on a Zach Ingle 3-pointer with six minutes to go. Ingle's two free throws pushed the Rams ahead, 62-61, with 2:06 remaining.
 
The Buccaneers pulled through the down the stretch by scoring the game's final six points, including four consecutive free throws that made it 65-62. The Rams missed two shots and turned the ball over twice on their final four possessions.
 
Senior Dylan Hurley fueled Cornell's comeback bid, scoring 14 of his 19 points in the second half. He also finished with six rebounds and three steals.
 
Jayden Meeker totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double in seven games. Ingle and Caleb Leslie added 10 and nine points, respectively.
 
Beloit led for all but 56 seconds of the contest. The Buccaneers held a decisive 50-29 advantage in rebounds and finished 9-of-10 from the foul line. Cornell made just 10-of-19 free throws.
 
The Buccaneers hit seven first-half 3-pointers in building a 37-27 lead at intermission.
 
Coming up – Cornell faces Ripon (10-11 overall, 7-5 MWC) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Ripon, Wis. Cornell won the first meeting, 64-58.