ITHACA, N.Y. - James Morales (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) scored 21 points to lead three Cortland double-figure scorers as the Red Dragons lost at Division I Cornell University, 96-70, in an exhibition game at Newman Arena. Cortland will officially open the season at home versus Ithaca College on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m.

Morales shot 7-of-15 from the floor with two three pointers and added three assists and three rebounds. Zach Lydon (Elizaville/Stissing Mountain) finished with 15 points and six rebounds, Nicky Bonura (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) added 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting, and Justin Cooper (Pine Plains/Stissing Mountain) chipped in with nine points and six rebounds.

Matt Morgan led Cornell off the bench with 25 points. He hit 9-of-12 shots, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range. Wil Bathurst totaled 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Big Red.

Cortland trailed only 15-14 with 10:37 left in the first half after a Lydon layup, but Cornell went on a 15-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 30-16 lead.

The Red Dragons trailed by 20 in the first half and 43-26 at halftime, but managed to get back within eight points at 43-35 on a Brendan Fitzpatrick (Plainview/Plainview-Old Bethpage) three-point play with 18:09 left. Morgan, however, scored the next four points, and Cornell held a double-figure lead the rest of the way.