MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's basketball team spotted Knox an early 13-point lead and couldn't make up the difference in Wednesday's 85-73 Midwest Conference setback inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The foul-plagued contest witnessed 63 free throw attempts, 48 in the second half. Knox (8-12 overall, 4-7 MWC) held off Cornell's comeback bid with 17-of-24 foul shooting over the final 20 minutes.
 
Knox hit its first eight field goals of the game as the Rams (3-17 overall, 2-9 MWC) fell behind 16-3. Cornell cut the deficit to 40-33 by halftime and pulled within 72-67 on a pair of Max Markgraf free throws with 3:56 left.
 
The Prairie Fire responded with a 7-0 spurt down the stretch to earn a season split with the Rams, who put up a season-high 92 points in a Jan. 13 win at Knox.  
 
Freshman guard Kylen Bonner continued his impressive play, pacing the Rams with 15 points, five rebounds and four steals. He reached double-figures scoring for the eighth consecutive game.   
 
Keon Talgo and Daniel Taylor provided a boost off the bench with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Cristian Acevedo and Caleb Leslie added nine points apiece. Acevedo grabbed a team-best six rebounds.
 
The Prairie Fire shot 55.8 percent from the field, while Cornell connected at a 33.8-percent clip. The Rams scored 17 points off 21 Knox turnovers.
 
Coming up – The Rams play host to Lawrence (11-9 overall, 4-7 MWC) at 1 p.m. Saturday. Cornell dropped the first meeting, 91-74.