Tartans Win in OT at Chicago, 85-83

(CHICAGO, Ill.) – Late defense and timely shooting led the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team to an 85-83 overtime victory on the road at the University of Chicago on Sunday, February 5. The Tartans improve to 11-9 and 5-4 in the University Athletic Association (UAA) while the Maroons drop to 12-8 and 4-5.

Eight straight points for senior Jack Serbin (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) gave the Tartans a 12-4 lead 4:46 into the game. Serbin later hit his third three-pointer of the half and a layup to put the Tartans ahead 22-12 with 11:29 remaining before the break.

Chicago used a 12-4 run to pull within two on a pair of free throws by Waller Perez. The teams traded hoops before Noah Karras was fouled on a three-point attempt and converted all three to make the score 34-33 in favor of the Tartans with 1:43 to go.

The Tartans swung the ball around on the next possession and sophomore Patrick Ehland (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) found freshman Will Fleming (Chicago, Ill./St. Ignatius) under the hoop for an easy lay-in and the Cardinal and Gray were back up by three. The Tartans kept the advantage and led 37-35 heading into the locker room.

Junior Ryan Maha (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) found his touch early in the second half and connected on three straight and 4-of-5 from distance in less than three minutes to put the Tartans ahead 53-42.

Jake Fenlon answered the call and hit three of his own from long range to bring the Maroons to within two points, 63-61, but another jumper from the top of the key by Maha put the Tartans back up four.

A drive and dish by Tyler Howard to Blaine Crawford for a dunk gave Chicago its first lead of the game, 67-65, with 5:21 to play. Chicago extended the lead to 70-65 as the Tartans missed eight straight from the field after Maha's jumper and before Serbin put in a shot in the lane with 1:24 to play to make it 70-67.

With the Tartans down three, sophomore Seth Henry (Fulton, Md./Reservoir) picked off a Chicago pass and Serbin drained his fourth three-pointer of the game with a man in his face to tie the game with 13 ticks left on the clock. A defensive stand by the Tartans put the game in overtime as a layup attempt by Perez rolled off the front of the rim.

Another steal by Henry led to another made bucket from long range for the Tartans as Maha put the Tartans up 79-78 with 2:20 to go in the extra period. With 28 seconds to play, Henry worked on the offensive glass and scored on a put-back while being fouled. He then converted the free throw to give the Tartans an 82-78 lead.

Up two with three seconds to play, the Tartans didn't allow a shot by the Maroons and won out, 85-83.

Serbin and Maha combined for 10 three-pointers with Serbin scoring a game-high 26 points and Maha tying his career-high with six made from distance to tie his season-high with 24 points. Serbin also grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds, dished out four assists and blocked four shots, two coming in overtime. Henry finished with 10 points, three assists and a career-best three steals.

Crawford led the Maroons with 25 points and 10 boards while Collin Barthel also had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Perez and Howard each finished with 14 points.

The Tartans return home for their next contest as they'll face Brandeis University (7-12, 3-6) on Friday, February 10 at 8:00 p.m.