Box Score Atkinson Posts Double-Double With 23 Points, 10 Rebounds
ITHACA, N.Y. – Yale got a big game from its post players and needed every basket. Paul Atkinson scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Jordan Bruner added 22 points and eight rebounds as the Bulldogs completed another weekend sweep with a 98-92 victory over Cornell before a big crowd at Newman Arena.
Yale (17-4) improved to 7-1 in Ivy play and kept its grip on first place in the Ivy League.
The Bulldogs have won five straight games and 13 of their last 14.
"Another really good team win," said James Jones, The Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "We had to battle all night long. Brian Earl has done a great job with the Cornell team. They play to their strengths."
Atkinson's 23 points matched his career high, while Bruner fell just three shy of his personal best.
"We have a lot of really good players," Jones said. "We always get somebody's best, and that is really key for us."
On this night it was Atkinson, who continued his torrid shooting, connecting on 9-of-13 shots from the field, including many where he beat his defender down the floor.
"We had a lot of chances to run. I ran the floor hard and my teammates were able to find me a lot," said Atkinson, who leads the league in field goal percentage.
The Bulldogs scored 54 of their points in the paint and had 18 fast break points.
Both teams were hot from the field. The Bulldogs shot 52.9 percent, while Cornell was at 52.6 percent.
Miye Oni had another strong game for Yale, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists. It was his fourth straight game with at least 20 points. Alex Copeland added nine points, while Blake Reynolds, Trey Phills and Azar Swain all contributed eight.
Matt Morgan was the star for the Big Red. He scored 35 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field and 10-of-10 shooting from the free throw line.
"He had it going on and made a lot of tough shots," Jones said.
Cornell scored the first eight points of the game, but Yale answered with 12 of the next 15 to take the lead.
Yale then built the advantage to 45-38 at halftime.
The Big Red, though, had a big start to the second half and had a six-point lead, 57-51, after Josh Warren's layup with 14:53 remaining.
The Bulldogs then answered with an 18-5 run to take the lead for good.
Cornell pulled back within three on a couple of occasions, but Yale again was very good down the stretch.
"Our guys were able to make plays when they were needed," Jones said.
The Bulldogs now return to the friendly confines of Lee Amphitheater for their next four games, starting next Friday against Dartmouth.
"We're feeling really good, but I don't think we've played our best game yet," Atkinson said.
Report filed by Tim Bennett (timothy.bennett@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity
