Men’s Basketball Late Run Falls Short Against New York

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – In a game of runs, the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team dropped an 86-83 heartbreaker to visiting New York University on Sunday, January 18. The University Athletic Association (UAA) setback leaves the Tartans' record at 10-4, 1-2 while NYU moves to 10-4, 1-2.

Carnegie Mellon opened the game by converting its first four shots, including three from behind the arc to grab a 12-2 lead.  Senior Seth Cordts (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) opened the game with a traditional three-point play, which was followed by the three triples for the Tartans, including two from sophomore Jack Serbin (New Albany, Ohio).

NYU answered the Tartans' start with a 10-2 scamper before the home team scored nine straight to push its lead back to double-figures at 23-12 with 10:36 to play in the half.  The Violets responded with a 15-3 run to grab their first lead of the game at 27-26, as they pushed the advantage to 37-30.  Carnegie Mellon put together the last run of the half, as the Tartans closed the half scoring 12 of the final 16 points to grab a 42-41 lead.  The final points of the period came on a jumper in the paint by senior Jasen Blakney (Raleigh, N.C./Enloe) in the closing seconds.
    
The runs continued into the second half, as NYU opened on a 15-3 and led 56-45 at the 15:28 mark.  Five minutes later, Carnegie Mellon cut the deficit to 63-59 before knotting the score at 70-70 with 5:08 to play on a jumper by Cordts. Over the next four minutes, NYU used a 12-4 spurt to make the score 82-74. The Tartans did not go away, as Cordts connected on back-to-back three-pointers, including a bank from the top of the arc to pull the Tartans to within two (82-80).  Four straight foul shots by the visitors extended the lead to 86-80, but Cordts was fouled on three-point attempt with 19 seconds left and converted all three shots.  After an NYU turnover, Carnegie Mellon had two shots to tie the contest but both were off.

Carnegie Mellon shot 42.9% from the floor to the Violets 45.1%, but held the edge on the glass 45-37.  Cordts tied a career-high with 34 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including an 11-of-13 showing from the charity stripe.  Serbin continued his run of double-figure contests with 17 points, while tallying five blocks and hauling down nine rebounds. Sophomore Chris Shkil (Mentor, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) ended the game with a career-high five blocks and a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with nine points.

Four Violets scored in double-figures with Hakeem Harris leading the way with 26 points.  Costis Gontikas finished with 20 and Ross Udine and Evan Kupferberg had 16 and 13, respectively.  Kupferberg led all players with 14 rebounds.

The Tartans will be in action on Friday, January 23 at 8:00 p.m. as they continue UAA play.  The Cardinal and Gray will travel to Rochester.