Three Tartans Score in Double Figures in Setback to NYU

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team entertained the Violets of New York University on Friday, January 31 and dropped a 76-65 decision in University Athletic Association (UAA) play.  The loss moves Carnegie Mellon's record to 9-8 and 2-4 in UAA play while NYU is now 13-4, 3-3.

The Tartans led 18-17 with nine minutes to play in the first half following a three-point bucket by senior Asad Meghani (Dallas, Texas/The Greenhill School). NYU then used a 19-3 run over the next five minutes to gain a 36-21 edge and take a 41-27 lead into the locker room.

NYU only missed eight shots in the first half and finished the frame shooting 68% from the floor while Carnegie Mellon ended the stanza shooting 31%.

Carnegie Mellon closed the gap to 10 points on three occasions in the second half before cutting the deficit to single digits with 1:28 to play on a trey by senior Rashaun Riley (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek).  Riley's long ball made the score 68-60 and was as close as the Tartans pulled.

Carnegie Mellon ended the game shooting 31% from the floor to the Violets 51%.  Senior Christian Manoli (San Rafael, Calif./Terra Linda) led the Tartans with 17 points while Riley ended with 15 points.  Freshman Jack Serbin (New Albany, Ohio) cashed in with 10 points in the setback.

New York had four players in double figures with Ryan Tana leading the way with 23 points.  Evan Kupferberg ended with 13 as Costis Gontikas and Iyoha Agho each had 12.

The Tartans will next play host to Brandeis University on Sunday, February 2 at 11:00 a.m.