Tartans Defeat Washington & Jefferson 81-73

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team hosted Washington & Jefferson College on Saturday afternoon and defeated the Presidents 81-73 to run its record to 2-0 on the young season.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 81, Washington & Jefferson 73
Records: Carnegie Mellon (2-0), W&J (1-1)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Weigand Gymnasium)

How it Happened

• The Tartans trailed 9-7 six minutes into the contest before scoring nine straight points to grab a 16-9 advantage at the midway mark of the first half and never surrendered the lead until earlier in the second half.
• Five minutes later the Cardinal and Gray grabbed their largest lead of the half at 26-15 and then led 31-26 at the break.
• Over a two-minute span in the second half, W&J scored nine unanswered points and led 38-36. On the ensuing possession after the Presidents took the lead, a triple by sophomore Aidan Murphy handed the lead right back to the Tartans.
• The lead was one that was never lost by the Tartans the rest of the way over the final 16 minutes of play.
• Carnegie Mellon led by as many as 12, 63-51, with 6:37 to play.
• W&J didn't go away as the cut the deficit to 68-65 with just over two minutes to play, but the Tartans converted 9-of-10 free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

For the Tartans

• Five Tartans scored in double figures for the Tartans with junior Jack Stone leading the way with 18 points. Stone also added a career-high 11 rebounds to record his first career double-double.
• Junior R.J. Holmes finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double.
• Sophomore Aidan Booher scored a career-best 14 points.
• Murphy scored 11 points and senior Josh Berry ended with 10.
• Berry also handed out a game-high seven assists.
• Senior Kevin Sax grabbed 11 rebound as the Tartans held the edge on the glass 55-37.

For the Presidents

• Kyran Mitchell led W&J with 18 points.
• J.R. Mazza finished with 16 points while Isaiah Langston had 11.

Game Notes

• The Tartans have won 10 straight over Washington & Jefferson and hold an all-time record of 41-38.
• Holmes has 12 career double-doubles.

Up Next

• Carnegie Mellon will be back on the hardwood on Tuesday, November 16. The Tartans will travel to North Canton, Ohio to play Division II Walsh University in an exhibition contest with the tip set for 6:00 p.m.at the Cecchini Center.