Men's Basketball Visits Cornell Sunday Afternoon
November 19, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2011
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BOSTON - Competing in the second of five straight games on the road, the Boston University men's basketball team will visit Cornell on Sunday (Nov. 20) at Newman Arena with action slated to begin at 2 p.m.
The Terriers (0-2) have had a week to prepare since starting the season last weekend with a hard-fought 82-74 overtime loss to Northeastern and an 82-46 Ticket City Legends Classic defeat at Texas.
Opening the year at 1-2, Cornell earned a 76-61 home win against Binghamton in-between losses at St. Bonaventure (79-58) and Buffalo (68-59). The Big Red has meetings with two more America East members, Albany (Dec. 17) and Stony Brook (Dec. 28).
Sunday's contest marks the third-ever game between BU and Cornell. The two squads first met in 2008-09 at Newman Arena, as the Big Red used an early offensive surge for an 89-59 victory en route to the Ivy League title. The Terriers responded last season with a career-high 32 points from Darryl Partin to pull out a 66-61 come-from-behind victory in Case Gym on their way to the America East title.
The senior guard tallied 30 of his 32 points in the second half in that game and is currently leading BU in scoring at 19.5 ppg while shooting 45.2 percent from the field. Sophomore D.J. Irving is second on the team at 13.5 ppg, while classmate Dom Morris is averaging 6.0 ppg and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game.
Through three games, Cornell has had eight players on the court for at least 18 minutes each. Shonn Miller, Eitan Chemerinski and Drew Ferry are all averaging 11.0 ppg with both Miller and Ferry also recording a team-high 4.7 rpg. Tallying nine points and eight assists against the Terriers last season, Chris Wroblewski remains the Big Red's top assist man at 6.6 apg.
One key for the game will be who finishes with a higher percentage of made 3-pointers. Cornell averaged a school-record 9.0 made treys last season, while the Terriers hit 7.6 per game. This season, the Big Red is shooting 36.2 percent form beyond the arc, while BU is still looking to find its touch after starting the season 9-of-53 (.170).
Following the game, the Terriers will remain on the road and conclude the Legends Classic at the University of Rhode Island over Thanksgiving weekend, starting with 2011 co-Horizon Leage champion Cleveland State at 2:30 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 25).
