Tartans Drop Home Contest to #19 New York

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team hosted #19 New York University Friday, February 3 on the hardwood of Skibo Gymnasium.  In the University Athletic Association (UAA) contest, the Violets defeated the Tartans 88-76 to drop Carnegie Mellon's record to 7-12, 2-6 while New York improves to 16-2, 6-2.

The Tartans trailed 16-14 at the 12 minute mark of the first half following the traditional three-point play by senior John Duhring (Round Hill, Va./St. Maria Goretti).  New York then used a 10-1 run over the next five minutes to extend its lead to 26-15.

Carnegie Mellon cut the lead to five on a sophomore Asad Meghani (Dallas, Texas/The Greenhill School) three-point bucket, but the visitor's quickly pushed the lead back to double digits, as they led 37-25 with 1:34 to play in the half.  The Tartans then closed out the half with two treys, the first coming off the hands of sophomore Christian Manoli (San Rafael, Calif./Terra Linda) and the second from Duhring in the closing seconds of to cut the deficit to 37-31 at the break.

New York started the game making 10 of its 13 baskets and shot 61% from the floor in the first half while Carnegie Mellon ended the first stanza shooting 44%. 

Sophomore Rashaun Riley (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) knotted the score at 49-49 with 13:40 remaining in the contest on a pair of free throws, but New York scored 12 straight points and never trailed the rest of the game.

Carnegie Mellon closed the gap to eight points on three occasions, with the last coming with seven minutes to play on a made foul shot by senior Joe Kromka (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway). That was as close as the home team came, as the Violets held on for the 88-76 victory.

Carnegie Mellon ended the game shooting 42% from the floor to the Violets 63%.  Riley led the Tartans with 21 points while Duhring ended with 16 points.  Kromka cashed in with points after going 10-12 from the charity stripe.

New York had four players in double figures with Carl Yaffe leading the way with 22 points and Kyle Stockmal with 21.  Andy Stein and Ryan Tana had 15 and 10, respectively.

The Tartans will next play host to Brandeis University on Sunday, February 5 at 12:00 p.m.