Credit: Robert Barker/University Photography

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The magical and magnificent men's basketball season – which included an undefeated stretch in the Ivy League and crowds packing home games – ended with today's loss to Stanford University, 77-53, in the first round of the NCAA tournament at the Honda Center. The Big Red finished the season 22-6 overall.

Credit: Robert Barker/University Photography

The festive atmosphere in Anaheim buoyed Cornell pride. The NCAA allotted each university 550 tickets, and the Cornell section was packed. Cornell students in Los Angeles for spring break showed up with painted faces and bellies, alumni from throughout the region filled many seats, as did more than 100 of the players' family members.

"Obviously we're disappointed in the outcome, but we'll work hard to come back next year," said junior Adam Gore.

Louis Dale, the 2007-08 Ivy League Player of the Year, scored a team-high 12 points and added six rebounds and two assists, while Gore had 11 points and Alex Tyler had 10. The team's leading scorer, Ryan Wittman, was limited to eight points.

Early in the first half, Cornell matched Stanford step-for-step. With 9:50 remaining in the first half, Gore scored a three-point shot to bring the Big Red within three points. Then swiftly, Stanford's towering Brook Lopez and Lawrence Hill each scored, and Patrick Hazel scored a three-point shot – and the Cardinal began widening the score. Cornell trailed Stanford, 38-17 at the half.

Credit: Robert Barker/University Photography

During halftime, alumnus Bryan Seiff '96 encouraged the entire Cornell section to get boisterous, rowdy and loud during the second half. "I wanna hear some noise. I am not hearing enough noise," he urged the crowd. Seiff did his medical residency at Weill Cornell Medical College and is studying plastic surgery at the University of California-San Francisco. "When I heard Cornell was going to Anaheim for the NCAA, I just had to fly down and see them."

Despite Cornell's fan support – including the pep band and the cheerleading squad, Stanford's Robin Lopez and Taj Finger got hot early in the second half, pulling away from Cornell. In a five-minute period, Stanford went on a 15-1 run.

To dampen the Big Red's chances of mounting a comeback, center Jeff Foote, who played a key role in the late-season, 16-game winning streak, fouled out of the game with 8:16 remaining in the game.

After the game, the long faces did not last long. Many of the players milled around outside the Honda Center in the warm California sunshine and enjoyed talking with their families. There were many laughs and many smiles, and the players and coaches ended their day, their tournament and their season having dinner with their families.