Tartans Drop Heartbreaker in Overtime at Rochester

(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 72-64 overtime game at the University of Rochester, Sunday, January 22.  The University Athletic Association loss moves the Tartans record to 6-10, 1-4 while Rochester is now 11-5, 2-3.

Rochester jumped out to an early 8-6 lead, but back-to-back three-point buckets by junior Andre Moore (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) put the Tartans ahead for the remaining of the half.  Carnegie Mellon used the spark of Moore's treys to put together a 19-4 run claiming a 25-12 lead with seven minutes to play in the half.

The Yellowjackets chipped into the visitor's lead, as they ended the half on a 12-5 run making the score 30-24 Carnegie Mellon after twenty minutes of action.  After starting the game 5-7 from behind the arc, the Tartans ended the half 6-11 from long range while holding the Yellowjackets to 1-9 for the half.

The Tartans took their largest lead of the game at 47-32 six minutes into the second half after scoring eight straight points.  Rochester's Nate Vernon pulled the home team within seven at 49-42 after draining back-to-back three-pointers at the 10 minute mark of the second.

With the Tartans leading 53-45 with 7:37 to play, Rochester went on a 13-5 run to cut the lead to one at 58-57 with 3:45 to play.  The score remained that way until 21.6 seconds left in regulation when Nathan Novosel connected on a pair of foul shots to give Rochester a 59-58 lead.

On the Tartans next possession down the court, sophomore Rashaun Riley (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) hit a floater in the lane making the score 60-59.  Riley then forced an offense foul and on the inbounds play found sophomore Christian Manoli (San Rafael, Calif./Terra Linda) a layup making the score 62-59 Tartans.

Rochester's Chris Dende sent the game into overtime after taking the inbounds pass and hit a bank three-point shot as time expired making the score 62-62.  

 In overtime, John DiBartolomeo scored seven of Rochester's 10 points as the home team went on for the 72-64 victory.

Riley led the Tartans with 20 points on 7-9 shooting from the floor and 4-5 from behind the arc.  Manoli ended the game with 16 points while senior Joe Kromka (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) and Moore had 11 and 10, respectively.

Dende led the Yellowjackets with 16 points while DiBartolomeo finished with 14 and Novosel cashed in with 11.

The Tartans will continue their four UAA road trip Friday, January 27.  The Cardinal and Gray will play New York University in the Big Apple at 8:00 p.m.