Ithaca, N.Y. — In a tightly contested matchup on Sunday, Jack Daugherty played a crucial role in guiding Illinois State to an 80-77 victory over Cornell, contributing 16 points as a key bench player.

Daugherty showcased his shooting prowess, making five of eight attempts from the field and hitting four of seven from three-point range for the Redbirds, who improved their record to 8-4. Chase Walker also made an impact, scoring 14 points with a shooting line of four of seven, while successfully converting six of his eight free throw attempts and pulling down seven rebounds. Logan Wolf added to the offensive effort, finishing with 13 points on four of five shooting, which included making three of three from long range.

On the other side of the court, Nazir Williams led the Big Red with 19 points and secured seven rebounds. AK Okereke matched Williams’s scoring total, contributing 19 points along with six rebounds and four assists. Guy Ragland Jr. also made his presence felt with 12 points for Cornell, which now holds a record of 7-4.

Daugherty was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 12 of his points before halftime, but Illinois State went into the break down by two, trailing 45-43. In the second half, they staged a comeback, utilizing a crucial 12-2 run that allowed them to overturn a four-point deficit and take a 70-64 lead with approximately 5:48 remaining in the game. Wolf was instrumental in this effort, contributing 13 points during the second half as Illinois State clinched the win.