Preview: Cornell Looks to Avenge Earlier Loss at Dartmouth in Ivy League Clash

HANOVER, N.H. (Interstat) — The Cornell Big Red visit the Dartmouth Big Green on Saturday in a late-season Ivy League men’s basketball matchup with both teams seeking momentum ahead of the conference tournament.

The game tips off at 2 p.m. at Leede Arena.

Cornell (14-12 overall) enters with a winning record but sits in the middle of the Ivy standings. The Big Red have shown flashes of potent offense, averaging 79.5 points per game, but consistency has been an issue. They are coming off an 86-80 home victory over Brown last Saturday.

Dartmouth (11-15) looks to snap a two-game skid after falling 82-61 at Princeton last weekend. The Big Green have struggled to find wins lately, dropping five of their last six contests.

A key storyline is Cornell’s quest for revenge. In the teams’ first meeting this season on Jan. 10, Dartmouth stunned the Big Red 102-91 in Ithaca, N.Y., in a high-scoring affair. Containing Dartmouth’s offense, which exploded in that first game, will be a priority for Cornell’s defense.

Players to watch include Cornell guard Cooper Noard, who is coming off a career-high 30-point performance in the win over Brown. Over his last seven games, Noard is averaging 15.3 points and has been a reliable scoring threat for the Big Red.

For Dartmouth, guard Kareem Thomas provides offensive firepower. He scored 22 points in the loss to Princeton and has tallied 22 points in two of his last four games. His ability to create shots will be crucial for the Big Green against a Cornell team that can score in bunches.

Both teams feature balanced scoring. For Cornell, Jacob Beccles (17 points, 5 assists vs. Brown) and Jake Fiegen (16 points) are key contributors. Dartmouth’s Brandon Mitchell-Day, who had 16 points against Princeton, and Jayden Williams offer support for Thomas.

The game represents a critical opportunity for both squads to improve their seeding for the Ivy League Tournament. A win for Cornell would solidify its position and avenge its earlier loss, while Dartmouth aims to protect its home court and climb back to .500 in league play.