Men’s Basketball Opens Season With 81-67 Victory over Geneva

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team started its 2013-14 season with an 81-67 victory over Geneva College on the hardwood of Skibo Gymnasium. Seniors Christian Manoli (San Rafael, Calif./Terra Linda) and Rob Mohen (Stamford, Conn./Regis (NY)) paced the Tartans with 17 points apiece while 11 players scored for the home team.

The first half saw the score tied nine times with four lead changes.  The last lead change came when senior Sean Brophy (Blue Bell, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) drained a three with 3:37 left in the half, putting Carnegie Mellon on top 26-25.  Carnegie Mellon led by as many as five over the next three minutes of play before the Golden Tornadoes cut the deficit to one at 33-32 heading into the break.

Midway through the second half, the Tartans used a 10-0 run to push the lead to 58-45. Geneva answered the Tartans' spurt by scoring eight straight of its own to pull within five (58-53), but that is as close as the visitors came.  

Carnegie Mellon quickly responded with a 12-4 scamper that started with a Manoli trey as he recorded seven points during the stretch.  A pair of Manoli foul shots with 2:38 to play in the game gave the Tartans their largest lead at 79-62 and they went on to the 81-67 victory.

The Tartans shot 51.7% from the floor to the Golden Tornadoes 42.1%.  Carnegie Mellon turned 13 Geneva turnovers into 22 points while Geneva was only able to turn nine Tartan mishaps into eight points.

Manoli tied a career-high with eight rebounds to lead the Tartans on the glass while Mohen hauled in seven. Senior Rashaun Riley (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) also scored in double figures with 10 points, as he led the team with three assists.

Carnegie Mellon will entertain Pitt Greensburg on Saturday, November 23.  Tip is set for 3:00 p.m. at Skibo Gymnasium.