Big Red at Yale, Brown to close season
ITHACA -- The Cornell men's basketball team looks to cap its best season in the Steve Donahue era this weekend with road games against Yale and Brown.
The Big Red faces the Bulldogs today and closes the season Saturday at Brown. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
The Big Red has already clinched its first .500 season in league play in eight years, and remains in a three-team fight for second place heading into its final two games of the year.
Cornell (12-13 overall), Dartmouth and Harvard all have 7-5 league records. All three are on the road, as Harvard and Dartmouth travel to Penn and Princeton.
"It would mean a lot (to finish second)," Cornell freshman guard Jason Canady said. "We are going to get better as a unit. (Finishing second) would boost our confidence."
The Big Red hasn't finished with more wins than losses in league play since going 9-5 in 1992-93 and finishing third. The Big Red hasn't finished higher than third since winning the league title in 1988.
"I think that's an accomplishment we would like to do and continue to build on," said Donahue, who is completing his fifth year as Cornell's coach. "This weekend, we can make a lot of things happen."
This weekend also marks the final games in the careers of seniors Cody Toppert and Eric Taylor. With appearances in the final two games, Toppert would set a school record for most career games played with 108.
Taylor needs 19 points to become the 20th person in school history to reach 1,000 points for his career.
"Those guys are great," Canady said. "They work so hard and are so dedicated to the program. They have the most incredible passion to win."
Cornell catches Yale and Brown at the right time. The Bulldogs (9-15, 5-6) have lost three consecutive games since sweeping Princeton and Penn on Feb. 18-19. Brown (10-15, 3-8) has dropped six of its last seven games.
"They have been a little up and down, both teams," Donahue said. "(Yale) beat Penn and Princeton. Both (Yale and Brown) have some young guys who have some substantial minutes."
With a win today, the Big Red would sweep the season series against Yale for the first time since 1999-2000. Cornell snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Bulldogs in their first meeting, an 87-82 double-overtime thriller Feb. 5 at Newman Arena.
Lenny Collins scored 11 of his 21 points in overtime. Yale's Edwin Draughan,who is second in the league in scoring averaging 15.5 points per game, had 25 points, but Cornell's Ryan Rourke countered with 22 points and 12 rebounds to push the Big Red to the win.
That victory came on the heels of an exciting 76-75 victory against Brown. Toppert made two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining and finished with 22 points to lift Cornell, which won despite Jason Forte's Newman Arena-record 36 points. Forte leads the Ivy League in scoring, averaging 17.8 points per game. He is third in assists, at 4 per game.
The Big Red hasn't swept the Bears since the 1998-99 season.
"Yale and Brown have been two of the better teams in the league since we have been here," Donahue said. "To beat them twice would mean something."
Sophomore guard Graham Dow made major contributions in both victories, but he will be out of action again this weekend due to a groin injury. Since Dow's injury, Canady has stepped in and averaged 13.3 points and 2.8 assists in Cornell's last four games.
"He has done a terrific job," Donahue said. "He's shown a lot of maturity. He's going to be a very good basketball player. I'm very pleased with his confidence level."
Canady has reached double figures in scoring in three of the past four games and made a couple of crucial baskets during the Big Red's 52-49 victory against Princeton last Saturday.
"I'm more comfortable on the court," Canady said. "I'm not trying to over-think the game. I feel more at home.
ITHACA -- The Cornell men's basketball team looks to cap its best season in the Steve Donahue era this weekend with road games against Yale and Brown.
The Big Red faces the Bulldogs today and closes the season Saturday at Brown. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
The Big Red has already clinched its first .500 season in league play in eight years, and remains in a three-team fight for second place heading into its final two games of the year.
Cornell (12-13 overall), Dartmouth and Harvard all have 7-5 league records. All three are on the road, as Harvard and Dartmouth travel to Penn and Princeton.
"It would mean a lot (to finish second)," Cornell freshman guard Jason Canady said. "We are going to get better as a unit. (Finishing second) would boost our confidence."
The Big Red hasn't finished with more wins than losses in league play since going 9-5 in 1992-93 and finishing third. The Big Red hasn't finished higher than third since winning the league title in 1988.
"I think that's an accomplishment we would like to do and continue to build on," said Donahue, who is completing his fifth year as Cornell's coach. "This weekend, we can make a lot of things happen."
This weekend also marks the final games in the careers of seniors Cody Toppert and Eric Taylor. With appearances in the final two games, Toppert would set a school record for most career games played with 108.
Taylor needs 19 points to become the 20th person in school history to reach 1,000 points for his career.
"Those guys are great," Canady said. "They work so hard and are so dedicated to the program. They have the most incredible passion to win."
Cornell catches Yale and Brown at the right time. The Bulldogs (9-15, 5-6) have lost three consecutive games since sweeping Princeton and Penn on Feb. 18-19. Brown (10-15, 3-8) has dropped six of its last seven games.
"They have been a little up and down, both teams," Donahue said. "(Yale) beat Penn and Princeton. Both (Yale and Brown) have some young guys who have some substantial minutes."
With a win today, the Big Red would sweep the season series against Yale for the first time since 1999-2000. Cornell snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Bulldogs in their first meeting, an 87-82 double-overtime thriller Feb. 5 at Newman Arena.
Lenny Collins scored 11 of his 21 points in overtime. Yale's Edwin Draughan,who is second in the league in scoring averaging 15.5 points per game, had 25 points, but Cornell's Ryan Rourke countered with 22 points and 12 rebounds to push the Big Red to the win.
That victory came on the heels of an exciting 76-75 victory against Brown. Toppert made two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining and finished with 22 points to lift Cornell, which won despite Jason Forte's Newman Arena-record 36 points. Forte leads the Ivy League in scoring, averaging 17.8 points per game. He is third in assists, at 4 per game.
The Big Red hasn't swept the Bears since the 1998-99 season.
"Yale and Brown have been two of the better teams in the league since we have been here," Donahue said. "To beat them twice would mean something."
Sophomore guard Graham Dow made major contributions in both victories, but he will be out of action again this weekend due to a groin injury. Since Dow's injury, Canady has stepped in and averaged 13.3 points and 2.8 assists in Cornell's last four games.
"He has done a terrific job," Donahue said. "He's shown a lot of maturity. He's going to be a very good basketball player. I'm very pleased with his confidence level."
Canady has reached double figures in scoring in three of the past four games and made a couple of crucial baskets during the Big Red's 52-49 victory against Princeton last Saturday.
"I'm more comfortable on the court," Canady said. "I'm not trying to over-think the game. I feel more at home.
