Max Groebe scored 15 points and Aaron Osgood 14 as Cornell outscored Albany down the stretch for a 65-61 victory Friday night in the opener for both schools.
The victory was the first for the Big Red under coach Bill Courtney, who replaced Steve Donahue this season. Donahue left to coach Boston College after leading Cornell to a 29-5 season, an Ivy League record for victories, and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16.
With the score tied at 52, Groebe hit a 3-pointer to put Cornell in front to stay, 55-52, with eight minutes remaining. Osgood's bucket with three minutes left gave the Big Red its largest lead of the game, 64-56.
Albany, of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which led by 12 in the first half, scored the next five points and had a chance to tie, but Tim Ambrose's driving shot in the lane in the final seconds missed.
Ambrose led all scorers with 20 points.
