PASADENA, CA – In their final non-conference game of the season, the Caltech men's basketball team fell to Cornell College 61-49 on New Year's Eve afternoon.

With Caltech using a new, and taller, starting line-up the squads played evenly for a majority of the first half. The lead changed hands four times until a late spurt lifted the Pioneers to the halftime lead. Leading 14-13 with 7:16 left in the stanza, Cornell scored 17 of the half's final 23 points. The visitors held a 31-20 edge at intermission.

Throughout the second half the teams played equally. Caltech got their deficit to 10 points to start the frame but couldn't get within single digits during the final 20 minutes of play.

Cornell built their lead to as large as 19 points at 44-25 with 13:31 left in the game. The Beavers fought back to within 12 points on six occasions but couldn't draw any closer.

Luke Lango and Ricky Galliani each scored a Caltech best nine points. Andrew Hogue posted his third game of the season with double figure rebounds by grabbing a game high 12.

Cornell's Reggie Greenwood had a team best 17 points in 34 minutes to pace the Pioneers offense. Joey Guth contributed a 16-point effort.