Box Score

Mount Vernon, Iowa – Cornell College built a big first half lead and went on to defeat the Prairie Fire 88-66 in Midwest Conference play on Tuesday.

The Rams (8-9, 5-7 MWC) scored the first 10 points of the game.  Knox got on the board and stopped the Cornell run on a 3-point basket by senior Eric Miller (Villa Park, IL, Willowbrook) 3:45 into the contest.

The Rams followed with a 13-4 run for a 23-7 lead at the 10:30 mark.  The Prairie Fire scored on back-to-back jumpers by junior Mitch Murphy (Bushnell, IL, Bushnell-Prairie City) and first-year Mike Martin (Metamora, IL, Metamora) to close the gap to 23-11 with 9:11 remaining in the opening stanza.

Cornell held Knox to a pair of free throws by senior Mackinzie Chapman (Sheffield, IL, Annawan) over the next five minutes while extending the lead to 33-13.

The Prairie Fire managed two baskets by senior David Jones (Denver, CO, Colorado Academy/Air Force Academy) and another free throw from Chapman the rest of the half and trailed the Rams 43-18 at the break.

Knox struggled to make shots, connecting on 7-of-24 (29 percent) over the first 20 minutes, and committed 14 turnovers.  Cornell shot 51 percent and turned the ball over only three times.

The Rams thwarted any thoughts of a big Prairie Fire comeback by scoring eight straight points to begin the second half to take their biggest lead of the game at 51-18 with 18:13 to play.

The Prairie Fire (1-15, 0-11 MWC) played much better in the second half.  Knox shot 59 percent after halftime and outscored Cornell 48-45, but the deficit was too big.

The Prairie Fire cut the Cornell advantage to 72-52 on a three point play by junior Dillon Eighner (Hoopeston, IL, Hoopeston) with 6:57 left in the game.  The Rams wouldn't let Knox get any closer, building the lead to 84-57 about four minutes later.

The Prairie Fire shot 45 percent overall while Cornell finished at 50 percent.  The Rams also sank 27-of-30 free throws while outscoring Knox 40-22 in the paint.

Knox wound up with 23 turnovers compared to just 12 for Cornell.  The Rams held a 36-16 edge in points off of turnovers.

Jones was the only Prairie Fire player to score in double-figures with 10 points.  Martin added eight points and two blocks while Miller and first-year Marcellis Davis (Chicago, IL, Curie) each had five rebounds to lead Knox.

Reggie Greenwood scored a game-high 23 points for Cornell.

The Prairie Fire visit Midwest Conference leader St. Norbert College on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.  The Green Knights have won 14 straight games and are ranked #8 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.

The game will be streamed live online at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/snc.portal# and live stats will be posted at http://www.snc.edu/athletics/teamfiles/livestats/xlive.htm