Tartans Drop 66-61 Contest to La Roche

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team hosted the Redhawks of La Roche College on Thursday, November 17 on the hardwood of Skibo Gymnasium. The Tartans dropped a 66-61 contest and even their record to 1-1 while the Redhawks also even their record at 1-1.

Three minutes into the game, junior Ryan Maha's (West Mifflin, Pa.) jumper gave the Tartans an 8-5 lead. La Roche then used a 12-2 run over the next seven minutes and led 17-10 at the midway part of the first half. The visitor's continued to hold the lead the rest of the frame and took a 33-25 advantage into the break.

La Roche led 41-35 with 12 minutes to play in the game before Carnegie Mellon scored seven straight points to take its first lead since the 17-minute mark of the first half. The lead was short lived, as the Redhawks used another 12-2 run to retake the lead, 53-44, with seven minutes to play and never trailed the rest of the way.   

The Tartans shot 38.3% from the floor to the Redhawks 45.0%. Two Tartans scored in double figures led by senior Chris Shkil's (Mentor, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) 16 points while Maha finished with 11 points. Shkil recorded four blocks and grabbed eight boards. Senior Jack Serbin (New Albany, Ohio) led all rebounders as he hauled down nine boards.

La Roche was led by Ray Quan Phifer who finished with a game-high 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Zach Gould ended with 15 points for the Redhawks.

Carnegie Mellon returns to the hardwood on Tuesday, November 22 when they travel north to play the Gators of Allegheny College. Tip is set for 8:00 p.m.