Scots Move to 10-0 in MWC with Win over Cornell
Monmouth, IL (01/28/2026) — The Monmouth College men's basketball team used an 19-3 run in the second half to take control of the game and beat Cornell 83-66 at home on Tuesday. The Fighting Scots (15-4, 10-0) have won seven games in a row and are assured of no worse than a tie for fourth in the MWC standings. The Scots will clinch a MWC Tournament berth with a win on Saturday at home against Beloit.
"Tonight was a good win for us against a Cornell team who won two of their last three games," said head coach Todd Skrivseth. "I wasn't happy with how we defended in the first half but the guys made the adjustment at halftime and we made it much tougher for Cornell. We executed well against their zone and shared the ball well."
With Cornell up 2-0, Zay Brown (Peoria, Illinois) made a free throw and a basket. Max Maring (Port Byron, Illinois) scored twice at the rim and Brown added a bucket as Monmouth led 9-4. After the Rams scored four straight, Turner Plumer (Canton, Illinois) scored at the rim and Brown put the Scots up 13-10. Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) drilled a 3-pointer but the Rams answered. Kamran Banks (Springfield, Illinois) scored on a putback but the Rams took a 19-18 lead. Maring hit a 3-pointer, as did Connor Watson (Macomb, Illinois) to put the Scots back on top. Jase Whiteman (Andalusia, Illinois) kept the parade going with a 3-pointer and Maring hit another for a 30-25 lead. Maring and Brown scored again but Cornell tied the game at 34. Plumer put the Scots up one but the Rams hit a 3-pointer and took a 38-36 lead. Banks scored on the final possession of the half for a tie game at the break.
Taylor and Cameron Thomas (Arlington, Texas) hit 3-pointers and Maring made it three in a row for a 47-40 lead. The Rams pulled it back to two with a 7-2 run before Brown made a free throw. Payton Crims (Alsip, Illinois) scored twice in a row and his thunderous put the Scots up 54-47 Thomas made a layup before the Rams scored three times in a row to cut the score to 56-52.
Then the Scots went on a 19-3 run to lead by 20. Jason Huber (Carpentersville, Illinois) had the first field goal in the run before Crims scored and Thomas hit three 3-pointers for a 73-55 lead. Thomas scored again for the 20-point lead before the Rams made two free throws and a bucket. Thomas scored again and Huber made two free throws to put the Scots up 18 with 3:13 to play. Taylor added two free throws and Brown scored the final basket for the 83-66 win.
"We had some timely threes to open up a lead in the second half and the guys did a good job managing the lead down the stretch," said Skrivseth.
Brown and Thomas both scored 18 points and Maring added 15. Brown had 11 rebounds for a double double and Taylor added seven boards. Banks led the Scots with five assists.
MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Brown has scored in double digits in every game he has played this season and in 29 straight games dating back to last season ... The 29-game streak is the second longest in Monmouth history, two behind the record ... He had his eighth double-double, matching last year's season total ... Brown tied Ben Friday for ninth in career blocks with 55 ... Thomas has scored at least 10 points in 13 straight games and he has 17 double digit games this season ... With one steal, Taylor has 134 in his career, passing Paul Engo for second in Monmouth history, 37 behind Will Jones' record of 171 ... Taylor played in his 96th career game, tying Ganon Greenman for fourth most in Monmouth history ... He is the fifth player in Monmouth history with at least 300 career assists .... Maring tied his career high with three made 3-pointers ... Thomas has made 10 3's in the last two games ... The 10-0 start in conference is the best since the 1989-90 team went undefeated as MWC Champions at 13-0 ... The senior class has won 62 games over four years, the most in 33 years and the 10th most amongst all senior classes in MC history ... Monmouth won in Cornell on Jan. 3 70-67 and lead the all-time series 84-78 ... Cornell has won 11 of the last 14 meetings ... Coach Skrivseth is 9-19 against the Rams, 6-7 at home ...The Scots host Beloit for Senior Day at 1 p.m. Saturday.
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