Dec. 6, 2004
Box Score
ITHACA, N.Y. (www.lafayette.edu) - Bilal Abdullah's game-tying three-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired, leaving Lafayette with a 75-72 setback at the hands of Cornell on Monday night at Newman Arena.
Abdullah's free throws with nine seconds left pulled the Leopards within one, at 73-72. Cornell's Jason Canady hit both foul shots with six seconds remaining. After advancing the ball to mid-court and using its final timeout, Lafayette was able to get a look for Abdullah in the corner but the shot was just long.
The dramatic closing seconds punctuated a second half in which Cornell (3-4) threatened to run away with the contest early. Lafayette (1-5) trailed 54-40 three minutes in before holding Cornell to just one field goal in the next 6:02. Four Leopards hit at least one bucket in a 14-2 spurt which brought the team within two.
Neither side scored more than five straight points for the rest of the night as Cornell's edge fluctuated between one and six. A jumper in the lane by sophomore Jamaal Douglas made the score 73-70 with 1:09 left.
Eric Taylor missed both free throws for Cornell, and Douglas and Abdullah both grabbed offensive rebounds at the end of Lafayette's possession. Abdullah was fouled, setting up the final nine seconds of action.
Lafayette turned the ball over just four times in the second half after nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes. Cornell held a 42-35 advantage at the break.
Douglas scored a career-high 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Senior Sean Knitter had 11, while Abdullah and fellow freshman Matt Betley both scored 10. Betley corralled a game-high seven rebounds.
Lenny Collins netted 17 points to lead four Cornell players in double-figures. Cody Toppert (five-of-13 on three-pointers) and Ryan Rourke each had 15.
Lafayette, which is on a five-game slide after its season-opening victory, will look for its second win of the season on Friday, Dec. 10 at Marist.
