Tartans Squander Late Lead to Brandeis

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team hosted Brandeis University Friday, February 8 on the hardwood of Skibo Gymnasium.  In the University Athletic Association (UAA) contest, the Tartans dropped a heartbreaker to the Judges 73-68. Carnegie Mellon's record is now 4-17, 1-9 while Brandeis moves to 16-5, 7-3.

Brandeis jumped out to the early 9-2 lead over the first three minutes of play, which proved to be the largest lead by either team in the first half. Carnegie Mellon pulled within one at 16-15 four minutes later off a trey by junior Asad Meghani (Dallas, Texas/The Greenhill School).  

The visitor's pushed the lead to 22-17 at the 10:04 mark before the Tartans scored seven straight points to take their first lead of the contest.  Junior Rashaun Riley (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) ended the seven straight with his second long ball of the game.  Carnegie Mellon continued to hold the lead the rest of the half and took a 35-31 lead into the locker room. The Tartans had the hot hand in the first half, shooting 53.8% to the Judges 46.2%.

Carnegie Mellon took its largest lead of the game at the 12:26 mark of the second half, following back-to-back treys by Meghnai and senior Andre Moore (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) to make the score 49-36.  The Tartans continued to lead by double digits and matched the largest lead of 13 points (61-48) at the four minute mark.

With the Tartans leading by 12 with 3:17 to play, Brandeis used an 18-4 run to regain the lead for the first time since the midway point of the first half at 69-67. The Judges' Jay Freeman scored 10 of his 18 points during the stretch as Brandeis went on for the 73-68 victory.

Carnegie Mellon outshot Brandeis for the game knocking down 51% of its shots to the Judges 48%.  Meghani led the Tartans with 18 points while Moore and Riley ended with 16 and 14, respectively.  Moore recorded a game-high four steals in the setback as he now needs nine more to become the Tartans single-season leader.

Brandeis was led by Derek Retos' game-high 19 points.  Youri Dascy ended the game with 16 points.

The Tartans will next play host to New York University on Sunday, February 10 at 12:00 p.m.