Tartans Drop 80-67 Contest at Brandeis

(WALTHAM, Mass.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team dropped an 80-67 decision at Brandeis University in University Athletic Association play Sunday, January 29. The loss moves the Tartans record to 7-11, 2-5, as the Judges improve to 11-7, 5-2.

Brandeis opened the game converting eight of the first 11 shots, including 3-3 from behind the arc, to take a 21-9 advantage eight minutes in. Junior Andre Moore (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) drained a three-point basket for the Tartans to cut the lead to 23-15, but the Judges closed out the half on a 23-6 run to lead 46-21 at the break.

The home team shot 59% from the floor in the first half including a 7-11 performance from long range while the Tartans shot 29% during the first twenty minutes of play.

The Tartans came out in the second half and did not go down without a fight.  The visitor's used an 11-2 run late in the half to cut the deficit to single digits. Sophomore Rashaun Riley's (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) jumper with 3:11 to play in the game made the score 65-56 Brandeis.  That is as close as the Tartans came, as Brandeis held on for the 80-67 victory.

The Tartans ended the game shooting 40% from the floor, as Brandeis finished shooting 58%.  Sophomore Christian Manoli (San Rafael, Calif./Terra Linda) led the Tartans with 21 points while Moore ended with a career-high 19 in the setback.

Brandeis had five players score in double figures with Vytas Kriskus leading the way with 17 points for the Judges.

The Tartans will be in action again on Friday, February 3 at 8:00 p.m. as they continue University Athletic Association play, hosting the New York University on the hardwood of Skibo Gymnasium.