Tartans Win Fifth Straight With 69-66 Victory Over Penn State Behrend

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team hosted Penn State Behrend on Saturday afternoon and snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Lions with a 69-66 victory. The win moves Carnegie Mellon's overall record to 5-2, as Behrend is now 4-3.

Carnegie Mellon finished the game shooting 45.3% (24-53) from the floor while Behrend shot 41.7% (25-60). Seniors Zach Howarth (Freehold, N.J./St. John Vianney) and Trent Suddeth (Winter Park, Fla./Trinity Prep) accounted for 39 of the Tartans points. Howarth scored a season-best 22 points and now needs five points to become the 20th Tartans to score 1,000 for their career. Suddeth ended the game with 17 points after shooting 7-of-11 from the floor. Junior Ethan Miller (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion) hauled in a season-best nine rebounds to lead all players. The junior also recorded a career-best six blocks in the win.

Behrend had three players score in double figures with Devin Pope leading the way with 19 points. PJ Gourley and Kenny Fukon each contributed 10 for the Lions.

In a tight matched game throughout, the game saw the lead change hands 20 times with the score tied on 14 occasions. The Tartans took the lead for good with 1:09 to play when freshman Nick Nakasian (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) connected on a pair of free throws which made the score 67-66. Following a missed triple by Behrend's Pope, Howarth grabbed the rebound and was fouled as he brought the ball up the court. The senior proceeded to drain both foul shots in a one-and-one situation to give the home team a 69-66 lead.

Pope had a good look at a three-point attempt with 14 seconds remaining, but the shot bounced off the rim. The rebound went into the hands of Behrend's Gourley to give the visitor's one last opportunity. Howarth's defense came into play as the senior recorded a steal to seal the Tartans fifth straight victory.

The Tartans are idle until Thursday, December 19 when the Presidents of Washington and Jefferson College travel to Pittsburgh for a 4:00 p.m. tip.