GRINNELL, Iowa – After spotting Cornell College a 14-point halftime lead, Grinnell College's comeback efforts proved too little, too late as the Rams came away with a 104-94 men's basketball win Tuesday.
 
Trailing by 18 points early in the second half at Darby Gymnasium, the Pioneers went on a 15-5 run that was capped by Dillon Gestring's '25 3-pointer that made it a 65-57 game with 13:04 left.
 
But Cornell took off, going up by 20 points twice in the late going including 94-74 with 4:24 left. However, Grinnell (6-14, 2-10 Midwest Conference) answered with a 17-6 run capped by Adam Phillips' '23 trey that made it a 100-91 margin with 34 seconds left.
 
Grinnell got within eight points in the waning seconds before the Rams escaped with the10-point victory.
 
Cornell (10-10, 8-3) shot a sizzling 74.0 percent from the field, best for a team against Grinnell this season.
 
The Pioneers had a balanced scoring attack, as Aiden Gilbert '23 and Mitch Priest '25 had 11 points each and Zach Rosen '26 tallied a career-high 10. Gestring grabbed six rebounds, Gilbert, Andre Wright '25 and Rosen had three steals apiece and Gilbert and Brady Vest '23 added three assists each. Wright's steals total was a career-high.
 
Grinnell is on the road Saturday to play Monmouth College. Tip-off is 3 p.m.