The Cornell Big Red will hit the road on Thursday, November 13, 2025, to face the Lafayette Leopards at Kirby Sports Center in Easton, PA, in a matchup of two teams seeking to improve their early-season records. Cornell heads into this contest with a 0-2 mark, having most recently fallen to Illinois State by a score of 76-65. In that game, the Big Red struggled on offense, shooting just 35.0% from the field, including a disappointing 19.4% on three-point attempts.
In their matchup against Illinois State, Cooper Noard emerged as a key player for Cornell, scoring 19 points and contributing five rebounds in 29 minutes of play. As a whole, the Big Red averaged about 83.5 points per game so far this season but struggled defensively, allowing 93.0 points per game, which is among the worst in Division I basketball. They are facing issues with turnovers and fouls, averaging 14 turnovers and 26.5 fouls per game, which will certainly be a focus as they prepare for Lafayette.
On the other side, the Lafayette Leopards come into this game with a record of 1-2 after a heavy defeat to Texas, losing 97-60. In that match, Lafayette shot 40.0% from the floor and allowed Texas to dominate the boards, with 41 total rebounds. Caleb Williams had a standout performance, scoring 20 points and shooting 60.0% from the field while also contributing three rebounds.
Lafayette’s defense has been inconsistent, surrendering an average of 75.3 points per game, ranking them 225th in the nation. They have forced an average of 14.3 turnovers but need to tighten their overall defensive strategy, particularly against a Cornell team looking to find rhythm offensively.
As both teams prepare to clash, the Big Red will aim to rectify their defensive issues and elevate their game to secure their first win of the season, while the Leopards will look to build on their single victory and capitalize on home-court advantage. The upcoming matchup promises to be an intriguing contest as both teams strive for a solid performance in this critical early-season game.
Tony Sink has picked Cornell to cover the spread in what could be a closely contested game at Kirby Sports Center.