Three at Buzzer Falls Short as Tartans Drop 66-63 Contest at Rochester

(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) - Despite holding the University of Rochester to 37.1% shooting from the field, the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team dropped a 66-63 contest to the Yellowjackets on the road, Sunday, January 24. The Tartans fall to 7-9 and 0-5 in the University Athletic Association (UAA), while the Yellowjackets move to 10-6 and 3-2.

The Tartans held the lead for more than four minutes early in the half, but by no more than four points on two occasions when junior Chris Shkil (Mentor, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) converted two layups.

A three-pointer by sophomore Ryan Maha (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) gave the Tartans their last lead of the half, 16-15, with 8:33 to go. Later, a five-point run pulled the Tartans with one, 29-28, before back-to-back three-pointers and two free throws by Jared Seltzer put Rochester up nine, 37-28, with 1:23 to play in the half.

Rochester held a 39-32 lead at the break, shooting 35.0% from the floor with five three-pointers and 11 points off nine Tartan turnovers. Carnegie Mellon shot 33.3% for the half and were led by Shkil's 12 points.

With under seven minutes to play, Shkil had a 6-0 run that pulled the Tartans within three points but a three-pointer by Seltzer answered the run, giving Rochester added life.

Maha had his own 6-0 run with back-to-back three-pointers, with his fifth of the game cutting the deficit to three with 47 seconds to play.

With a hold on defense, the Tartans had an opportunity to tie the game. A three-point attempt by Maha hit the front of the iron and despite an offensive rebound by freshman Patrick Ehland (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon), a last-second three ball by senior Jason Sebak (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Prep) was also short, giving Rochester the 66-63 victory.

Maha led the Tartans with 19 points, tying his career-high with five made three-pointers. Shkil finished the game with 18 points while junior Jack Serbin (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half. Serbin grabbed 13 rebounds to finish with his 10th double-double of the year while matching a career-high with five assists.

Rochester's Seltzer finished with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds, as Sam Borst-Smith scored 15 points and collected four assists.

The Tartans will remain on the road when they face No. 17 New York University on Friday, January 29 at 8:00 p.m.