Tartans Closeout Gators 67-64

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team hosted Allegheny College Tuesday, November 22 on the hardwood of Skibo Gymnasium and defeated the Gators 67-64 in game that saw 11 lead changes and the score tied nine times.  The win moves the Tartans record to 2-1 while Allegheny is now 1-3.

Over the first five minutes of play Allegheny jumped out to a 9-3 lead.  The Tartans answered the Gators with a 10-2 run, as they took their first lead of the game, 13-11, with 11:25 to play in the first half.  After a James Ness layup for the Gators, senior John Duhring (Round Hill, Va./St. Maria Goretti) connected on his second straight three-point field goal giving the home team its largest lead of the half at 16-13.

Allegheny reclaimed the lead with 3:52 remaining in the half, when Devone McLeod drained a trey making the score 26-23.  The Gators led by as much as six before holding a 31-27 heading into the break.   

The Gators came out in the second half and extended the lead to 37-29 over the first three minutes.  From there, the Tartans used a 14-4 run to take a 43-41 lead.  The lead change was the first of seven in the second half.  

With 44 ticks left in regulation McLeod hit a jump back jumper to give the Gator's a 64-63 advantage.  On the next possession down the court, Duhring was sent to the foul line and converted both free throws giving the lead back to the Tartans, one they never saw disappear.  After a missed three-point attempt by Allegheny, Duhring was sent back to the charity stripe and once again drain both, extending the Tartans lead to 67-64.

The Gators had one last opportunity, but a contested three-point shot from the corner by McLeod was unsuccessful and the Tartans came away with the 67-64 victory.

Duhring led all scorers with 19 points and added a career-high five assists. Sophomore Rashaun Riley (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) ended with a career-high 16 points while converting 4-5 from behind the arc.  

The Gators were led by McLeod's 14 points and D'Andre Corbin's 10.  Ness led all players with 12 rebounds.

The Tartans return home, as they host the DoubleTree Carnegie Mellon Tournament on Saturday, November 26, with a game against Otterbein at 3:00 p.m. Ithaca and Lebanon Valley play at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday with the winners of each contest playing at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday and the consolation game set prior at 1:00 p.m.