Loebbaka Scores Career-High as Late Run Falls Short for Tartans in DoubleTree Invitational

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - A late run by the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team fell short as Capital University held on for the 64-63 victory in the consolation game of the Carnegie Mellon DoubleTree Invitational in Skibo Gymnasium on Sunday, November 25. Sophomore Matt Loebbaka (Mt. Prospect, Ill./Prospect) recorded a career-high 14 points and was named to the all-tournament team.

A 5-0 run by Loebbaka put the Tartans (1-4) up 15-8 nine minutes into the game but the Crusaders (2-3) responded with a 10-4 run to pull within one point, 19-18, after a three-pointer by Damon Dillard with 7:40 to go in the period.

The Tartans never lost the lead during the period and went on to a 36-30 advantage at the break after senior Andre Moore (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) scored all seven of his points during a period ending 11-6 run by the home squad.

Junior Asad Meghani (Carrollton, Texas/Greenhill School) opened the second period with a three-pointer but it was all Capital shortly after as the Crusaders scored nine straight to tie the game at 39-39, three minutes in.

Capital would extend their 9-0 run to a 25-3 run to take its largest lead of the game at 13 points, 55-42, with nine minutes to go. The Tartans shot 1-for-11 over the 11-minute span and turned the ball over six times leading to 11 Capital points.

Over the final nine minutes, the Tartans answered with a 21-9 run to pull within one point in the last minute of the game. Loebbaka started the run with five straight while Meghani hit three treys during including two on back-to-back possessions early in the run.

With 28 seconds to play and Capital leading by one, the Tartans forced a turnover as Moore came up with the steal. The Tartans missed two from the field but retained possession with offensive rebounds by sophomore Seth Cordts (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan). Meghani had the ball with a second to go but his three-pointer fell short resulting in the 64-63 Capital victory.

Meghani finished with a game-high 17 points as four Tartans pulled in four rebounds. Freshman Jason Sebak (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Prep) dished out three assists while the Cardinal and Gray shot its best for the season at 48.1%.

The Tartans return to the hardwood on Tuesday, November 27 when they host Juniata College at 7:30 p.m.