PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Cortland used a dominant second half to pull away from the St. John Fisher University men's basketball team on Tuesday night, handing the Cardinals a 99–74 loss inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium. With the loss, the Cardinals drop to 3-5 on the young season.

How It Happened
The Cardinals started fast, jumping out to a 16–0 lead behind a barrage of threes from Alex Hayes and efficient finishes from Max Schneider. Fisher shot 15-for-32 in the opening half and carried a 37–37 tie into the locker room.

Cortland took control immediately in the second half, outscoring Fisher 62–37 the rest of the way while shooting 51 percent from the field and getting 41 bench points. The Red Dragons forced 19 Fisher turnovers and converted them into 28 points. Fisher's early momentum faded as Cortland stretched the lead into double digits and never let it back inside single digits.

Hayes led Fisher with 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from three. Schneider added 16 points and three assists. Mekhi Gidney and Giovanni Schillaci each chipped in offensively off the bench, while Jonathan McCaffrey posted four rebounds, four points, and two steals.

Game Notes
• Fisher opened the night on a 16–0 run over the first 4:20.
• Fisher shot 55.6 percent from three (10-for-18).
• Turnovers proved costly, with Cortland turning 19 Fisher giveaways into 28 points.
• Cortland held a 26–14 edge in points in the paint during the second half and 38–26 overall for the game.
• Hayes scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half.
• Cortland placed five players in double figures and finished 23-for-27 at the free-throw line.

Up Next
Fisher returns to action after Thanksgiving break. The Cardinals will host SUNY Canton on December 2, tip-off is set for 6 P.M.