Men’s Basketball Wins 70-66 at Brandeis Behind Serbin’s Eighth Double-Double

Men’s Basketball Wins 70-66 at Brandeis Behind Serbin’s Eighth Double-Double

(WALTHAM, Mass.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team opened its University Athletic Association (UAA) road slate with a 70-66 win at Brandeis University on Friday, January 13. The win marked the first for the Tartans at Brandeis since the 2006 season. Carnegie Mellon improves to 8-5, 2-0 while Brandeis is now 5-7, 1-1.

Carnegie Mellon never trailed in the contest and finished the game shooting 43.6% from the floor while Brandeis shot 42.1%. For the 12th time this season, Carnegie Mellon held the advantage on the glass, as the Tartans grabbed 36 rebounds to 32 by the Judges.

Senior Jack Serbin (New Albany, Ohio) led all players with 25 points and 11 rebounds to record his eighth double-double. Serbin was 10-of-11 from the foul line. Senior Chris Shkil (Mentor, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) and junior Ryan Maha (West Mifflin, Pa.) both scored in double figures for the Tartans. Shkil tabbed 13 and Maha ended with 10.

Carnegie Melon started the game making its first four shots, including two three-pointers, to take an early 10-5 lead three minutes into play. The Tartans run reached 15-5 at the 13:49 mark on a jumper by Serbin. The Cardinal and Gray led by as many as 19, 31-12, with 5:29 to play in the half before the home team closed the first twenty minutes of play on a 14-7 run, including the last seven points, to trail the Tartans 38-26 at the break.

The Tartans were led by Serbin and Maha in the first half with nine points each. Maha converted 3-of-3 from behind the arc while the Tartans were 6-of-9 as a team from long range. Carnegie Mellon shot 50.0% (15-30) from the floor to the Judges' 37.9% (11-29).

Carnegie Mellon was held without a field goal until the 12:36 mark of the second half, as the Tartans missed their first nine shots. Brandeis took advantage of the visitor's drought and cut the score to 41-37. Carnegie Mellon held the lead the rest of the way before holding on for the win, as the Judges pulled within one on a layup by Jordan Cooper with 17 seconds remaining. Serbin converted two foul shots with 16.1 seconds remaining and Shkil added another with 1.7 seconds left to seal the victory.

Carnegie Mellon will be back in action on Sunday, January 15 when they head to New York to play the Violets of NYU. Tip is set for 11:00 a.m. at the Hunter College Sportsplex.