Tartans Topple Bulldogs 70-44

(ADRIAN, Mich.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team traveled to Adrian, Michigan to play the Bulldogs of Adrian College on Saturday, December 7 and came away with a 70-44 victory.  The win improves the Tartans record to 5-1 while the Bulldogs are now 1-6.

Carnegie Mellon held Adrian without a basket over the first 6:41 of play as the Tartans jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs missed their first six shots and the cold spell continued, as they missed their next six after making a bucket.  The home teams drought allowed Carnegie Mellon to extend its lead to 12-3 with 8:45 to play in the half.  

Three minutes later, the Tartans grabbed a 17-5 lead following a traditional three-point play by senior Rob Mohen (Stamford, Conn./Regis (NY)) and a layup by freshman Jack Serbin (New Albany, Ohio).  

Carnegie Mellon maintained the edge the rest of the half and took a 29-16 advantage into the break. The Tartans ended the frame shooting 57.1% (8-14) from the floor while the Bulldogs shot 25.0% (5-20).  

The Tartans used a 7-1 run to grab a 40-21 with 14:32 to play in the game thanks to a converted and-one from junior Seth Cordts (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) and two baskets by Mohen.  Adrian then answered with five straight points to cut the lead to 40-26, but was as close as the Bulldogs got.  Carnegie Mellon scored the next eight points extending its lead to 48-26 at the midway point of the second half.

Carnegie Mellon led by as many as 33 points down the stretch and went on to win its fifth contest of the season by the score of 70-44. For the fourth time this season, the Tartans shot over 50% from the field as they ended the contest shooting 59.5% to the Bulldogs 31.9%.  The Tartans dominate the on the glass hauling down 38 rebounds to Adrian's 21.

Adrian's 44 points were the fewest scored by a Tartan opponent since December 28, 2005 when Carnegie Mellon defeated Princeton 51-46.

On the afternoon, 12 different Tartans scored with Mohen and senior Christian Manoli (San Rafael, Calif./Terra Linda) leading the way with 15 points apiece. Freshman Chris Shkil (Mentor, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) turned in his first career double digit outing with 10 points.  Manoli and senior Sean Brophy (Blue Bell, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) led on the glass with a game-high six rebounds each.

The Bulldogs were led by Rickey Jackson's game-high 22 points. The sophomore also led the home team with five rebounds.  

The Tartans will rest from action until December 18 when they travel La Roche College at 7:00 p.m.