WILLIAMSBURG, Va. ? Cornell's Conor Mullen hit a jumper with 2:10 left to put Cornell ahead for good and the Big Red converted eight straight from the foul line in the last 1:42 of regulation to rally the Big Red past VMI, 99-94, in the first round of the William & Mary Tip-Off Classic Friday night at Kaplan Arena in Williamsburg, Va.
VMI (3-6) dropped its fourth straight and remained winless on the road trip which concludes Saturday night in the consolation game at 6:00 p.m.
Junior forward Reggie Williams poured in 41 points for the Keydets, setting a new Kaplan Arena and Tip-Off tournament record, but it wasn't enough as Cornell had all seven of its scorers reach double figures. Louis Dale and Ryan Wittman paced the Big Red with 18 points each as Cornell (4-3) snapped a two-game losing streak.
VMI led 54-46 at the break after playing one of its best halves of the year, hitting 12 of 28 3-pointers, forcing 13 Cornell turnovers, and holding a 26-20 rebounding advantage including a 15-8 lead on the offensive glass.
But the tables turned in the second half as VMI hit just 7 of 26 beyond the arc and forced just six Cornell turnovers. The Big Red shot 55% from the floor in the second half and outrebounded the Keydets, 22-20 after intermission.
“We didn't force turnovers in the second half,” said VMI head basketball coach Duggar Baucom. “It was pretty much the story of the game and we committed turnovers. It was the first time this year that we committed more turnovers than our opponent. That's kind of sickening against a team that doesn't press. We couldn't make a stop defensively (in the final two minutes). That's what it boiled down to. Reggie Williams... 41 points-16 rebounds, that's pretty good effort. We had 27 offensive rebounds and Chavis Holmes stepped up, but it ultimately comes down like it has all year- to make plays.”
Cornell scored the first eight points of the second half to start a run, and tied the game at 66-66 at the 12:22 mark on a layup and foul shot by Mullen. One minute later, Wittman cranked in a three from the left baseline to give the Big Red their first lead since the 18:18 mark of the first half.
The Big Red amassed a 26-8 second half run and took its largest lead with 8:03 left when Brian Kreefer nailed a trey to put Cornell ahead, 80-72. But the Keydets rallied with an 18-8 run and reclaimed the lead on a Fred Robinson three-pointer from the left wing to give VMI an 89-88 advantage.
The lead was short-lived, however, when Mullen hit a jumper 35 seconds later to give Cornell a lead it would not relinquish.
VMI trailed 95-92 under 30 seconds to go, but couldn't tie the game when sophomore Willie Bell missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key, and Murrer fouled Dale on the rebound with 15.3 left. The Birmingham, Ala. freshman converted the two free throws and nailed two more at the 9.8 mark to ice the contest.
The Keydets led by as much as 13 points in the first half when Williams swished a 3-pointer to give VMI a 35-22 lead at 8:55.
Sophomore guard Chavis Holmes, who missed Tuesday's Army game with a knee sprain, returned to action and scored 27 points on eight of 15 shooting including six of 13 from long-range. Williams pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds to post his fourth double-double of the year and 5th 30-point outing of the season. The 41 points by Williams was second only to his school record 45 points against Virginia Intermont November 15.
VMI will face Jacksonville State in the Tip-Off Classic consolation game at 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening.
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