Cornell backdoors Utah Valley, secure Jacksonville Classic title

Utah Valley employed their first press of the game with just under five minutes to play, down 18.

A Guy Ragland Jr. layup early in the first half gave Cornell a one-point lead that the Big Red expanded on the rest of the way. Cornell beat the UVU Wolverines 74-61, undefeated at the Jacksonville Classic and taking home the Bay Bracket Championship. 

Senior guard Chris Manon was named tournament MVP, averaging five rebounds and a team-high 15 points through the tournament.

Starting center Trevin Dorius provided the Wolverines with stellar interior defense with his four blocks and six boards, forcing Cornell to score from the perimeter early. The Big Red would play two different games depending on UVU’s lineup, looking to attack the Wolverine's backup center at the rim when he was on the floor.

The game wasn't dominated by either team as play opened with the Big Red and the Wolverines trading buckets and stops. After a UVU timeout at the 10-minute mark and some emphatic words from head coach Todd Phillips, Utah Valley turned to redshirt senior Caleb Stone-Carrawell often, giving him the green light as he scored eight of the team's first 12 points, finishing with 15.

Cornell would figure out an efficiency to their offense halfway through the first half, UVU was noticeably overplaying defensively on cuts and handoffs, so Cornell combatted that with backdoor actions. Running as many as six cuts in a single set, patiently waiting for the lane to open. 

Utah Valley used off-ball screens for shooters and look to Dorius when one-on-one in the post. Cornell employed a full-court zone press try to speed up the slow-paced Utah Valley offense.

The first half would close with emphatic defense by UVU, blocking four of the five shots put up by Cornell in the final two and a half minutes and stealing the ball on the final possession. The Big Red led by just four going into the break.

The second period was all Cornell all the way. After trading threes to open the half, the Big Red applied a trap at half-court that sped up Utah Valley's offense and used a few effective inbounds plays to confidently take hold of the lead by the 17-minute mark. Manon would get to the foul line three times down in a row during this stretch, with a tough chin he’d take punches and keep responding. 

The clock withered down and with the crowd out of the game halfway through the second half, a few UVU stops and calls their way swung the momentum. The Wolverine’s Drake Allen didn’t get the first call he wanted on a post-up down low, and came back three sequences looking like a bull in a China shop finding his way to the free throw line.

This didn’t last long for UVU as the Big Red grew back their extensive lead; applying a full-court press up 19 with under five minutes to play.

Cornell improves to 5-1 on the season and continues their road trip at Monmouth University on Wednesday. UVU will face Western Colorado at home on Friday looking to improve from 3-2.