Nakasian Scores Career-High in 70-64 Setback at Chatham

Nakasian Scores Career-High in 70-64 Setback at Chatham

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team traveled across Forbes Avenue to play the Cougars of Chatham University on Saturday afternoon. The Tartans dropped a 70-64 decision and even their record at 2-2 while Chatham moves to 2-0.

Carnegie Mellon was led by junior Nick Nakasian (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty), who scored a career-best 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting. He also tied his career-high with eight rebounds. Junior Josh Berry (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) was the only other Tartan in double figures as he ended with 10 points and dished out four assists. Sophomore R.J. Holmes (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai Stevenson) finished with a team-high nine rebounds.

Over the first six minutes of play Chatham outscored the Tartans 14-4. The home team continued to control the first twenty minutes and led by as many as 16 points before taking a 43-29 advantage into the locker room.

The Tartans scored the first seven points of the second half and cut the deficit 43-36, but back-to-back triples by Chatham pushed the lead back to double figures. Carnegie Mellon then used a 14-4 run and cut the Cougars lead to 63-60 with three minutes to play when junior Kevin Sax (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Thunder Ridge) scored on a layup. That's as close as the Tartans pulled, as Chatham scored seven of the next eight points.

Carnegie Mellon will be back on the hardwood on Wednesday, November 17. The Tartans will travel to North Canton, Ohio to play Division II Walsh University in an exhibition contest with the tip set for 5:30 p.m.at the Cecchini Center.