Green Knights Go Cold in Iowa

From Sports Information Director, December 1, 2012 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - St. Norbert College got 16 more field-goal attempts than Cornell College but only made one more as the Rams made up the difference at the free-throw line in a 58-54 Midwest Conference game won by the home team at Small Multi-Sport Center.

The Green Knights (2-2, 1-1) were 22-for-56 (39.3 percent) from the floor for the game, but made just 9 of 26 (34.6 percent) in the second half. Cornell (2-2, 1-0), meanwhile, canned 21 of 40 (52.5 percent) of its field goals and made 11 free throws to the Green Knights' six.

Things looked good early for St. Norbert, which led 17-5 just 9 1/2 minutes into the game. The Green Knights held a 22-12 lead with 6:47 left to go before halftime before the Rams went on a 13-4 run to get to within 26-25 with 56 seconds left. St. Norbert led 29-26 at halftime.

St. Norbert was able to get a 41-35 lead with 13:32 remaining before a quick 7-0 spurt by the Rams put the host ahead 42-41 with 11:55 left. Trent Monckton put St. Norbert ahead on a 3-pointer on the Green Knights' next possession, but consecutive hoops by Cornell's Reggie Greenwood gave the Rams a lead they would never relinquish.

The Green Knights would get to within 52-51 with 5 minutes left, but later missed the front end of a 1-and-1 that could have put the Green Knights ahead. St. Norbert drew within one again at 43-53 with 2:46 left, but a Greenwood jumper gave Cornell a three-point lead. St. Norbert was within two inside the final minute but did not get a shot off on either of its next two possessions, turning the ball over.

Paul Appleton led St. Norbert with 15 points off the bench. Andrew Schwoerer added 14 points, while Brandon Gries had 10 points.

Joey Guth led Cornell with 16 points, while Greenwood added 14 points for the Rams, who outrebounded St. Norbert 32-27.