MOUNT VERNON, Iowa — The Cornell College men’s basketball team converted a few key plays down the stretch Tuesday to edge Lawrence University 73-64 in a Midwest Conference game at the Multi-Sport Center.
Grant Anderson led Cornell with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds. Jon Anderson added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Rams (7-11, 5-8 MWC).
Jeremy Stephani paced Lawrence (7-10, 7-6) with 20 points, and Mitch Willer and Ben Peterson added 10 points apiece.
Cornell trailed the entire game before taking the lead for good at 62-59 on Grant Anderson’s 3-pointer with 2:28 left. Jon Anderson then got a critical steal and breakaway dunk to put the Rams up by five.
After a Lawrence miss, Corey Davis converted two free throws to put Cornell up 66-59. Stephani raced down the court for a layup before the Vikings fouled Grant Anderson. He made the first and missed the second, but Cornell grabbed the offensive rebound and Lawrence fouled again.
Craig Engle hit both free throws, but Peterson drained a 3-pointer for the Vikings with 31 seconds left to cut the lead to 69-64. Lawrence pressure created a steal by Evan McLaughlin, but Stephani missed the ensuing 3-pointer to seal the Vikings’ fate.
Cornell went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final 21 seconds to secure the victory.
Free-throw shooting was the difference because of a huge discrepancy at the line. Cornell went 32-for-38 from the stripe while the Vikings were 2-for-3. Lawrence was whistled for 26 fouls, and just seven fouls were called against the Rams.