The first win of the season always hits differently — louder in the gym, sharper in the memory and sweeter for a team eager to show what it can become.
On Thursday night in Easton, Pennsylvania, the Cornell men’s basketball delivered its most complete performance of the young season, exploding for a 97-78 victory over Lafayette University (1-3, 0-0 Patriot) at Kirby Sports Center. In a game that swung wildly in pace and emotion, the Red (1-2, 0-0 Ivy) didn’t just collect a win; it made a statement.
Coming off two high-octane battles on the road, the Red entered the matchup still searching for rhythm, identity and a spark. It left with all three. Cornell’s ball movement hummed, its shooters fired with confidence and its depth once again proved to be one of the program’s strengths. More than anything, the game felt like the moment the season finally clicked into place.
The tone shifted during the final minutes of the first half. Cornell had trailed 7-0 early, struggling to settle into its offensive flow, before junior guard DaMaryon Fishburn breathed life back into the rotation with nine first-half points. Senior guard Corbin Zentner added three huge threes off the bench, jolting the Red into attack mode. With senior guards Cooper Noard and Adam Hinton steadying the offense, Cornell slowly turned a quiet start into a 46-40 halftime advantage.
But the second half? That was an avalanche.
Noard, starting the season hot, wasted no time torching Lafayette’s defense. The senior poured in 14 points in the first five minutes out of the locker room, splashing threes in transition, navigating screens flawlessly and igniting the Red bench with every shot. His 26-point performance came on 9-15 shooting, including five made threes, along with six rebounds and a level of offensive leadership that anchored Cornell’s entire identity on the floor.
Each make seemed to pull the Red further into its groove. Each defensive rebound, each early-offense cut, each fluid swing pass built momentum. Lafayette had little answer for the blitz. All of this together grew the Red lead from single digits to double digits, which then ballooned to a nearly 20 point advantage as the Red piled up 51 points in the second half alone.
Hinton was once again a model of consistency, finishing with 15 points, four assists and six perfect trips to the free-throw line. Junior guard Jacob Beccles added a smooth 17 points on 7-11 shooting, while also directing traffic with poise, timing and vision. His four assists and three rebounds rounded out one of the most balanced performances of the night.
Cornell’s bench played a critical role in the victory. Besides Fishburn’s early spark and Zentner’s long-range shooting, sophomore forward Gio Panzini provided toughness and energy, while senior guard Josh Baldwin delivered a career-high 10 rebounds. Baldwin’s presence on the glass was central to Cornell’s 44-34 rebounding advantage, which helped catalyze the transition game that Lafayette struggled to contain.
Cornell finished the night shooting 52 percent from the field and 15-39 from deep. Even more impressive, 23 of the team’s 38 made shots came off assists, a testament to the unselfish, uptempo identity head coach Jon Jaques ’10 has continued to emphasize. Whether attacking out of secondary breaks, flowing through motion sets or working the ball around the perimeter, Cornell’s offense operated with a sharpness that forced Lafayette to chase the ball all night.
The Leopards had their moments, particularly through Caleb Williams, who led the team with 19 points while going 8-8 at the line. Shareef Jackson added 13 points, while Andrew Phillips and Mark Butler had a combined total of 17 points. However, Lafayette only managed to make five threes and struggled to slow Cornell’s tempo, especially as the Red turned defensive rebounds into immediate scoring opportunities.
As the game clock wound down, the energy on the Cornell bench grew into a celebration of what this win represented, not just a number in the standings, but a reflection of the team’s resilience, confidence and growth through the first road stretch of the season.
The Red now return to Ithaca with momentum at its back and the chance to build on its first victory. Cornell opens its home slate against Army West Point at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Newman Arena. The Red enter the contest riding a 10-game winning streak against the Black Knights, and with an offense that’s starting to look more dangerous by the night.
The matchup follows the women’s basketball home opener and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Sureya Lopez is a member of the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the sports department and can be reached at slopez@cornellsun.com.
