Tartans Upset #18 Emory 82-79
(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Sophomore Sean Brophy's (Blue Bell, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) three-point basket with 0.6 seconds remaining in the contest lifted the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team to an 82-79 upset victory over #18 Emory University. The win on the Skibo Gymnasium hardwood brings the Tartans' record to 8-15 and 3-9 in University Athletic Association play. The Eagles are now 18-5, 7-5.
The Tartans led 79-77 before Emory's Austin Claunch was fouled and converted both his attempts from the line, knotting the score at 79-79 with 8.9 seconds remaining. On the inbounds pass, sophomore Rashaun Riley (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) drove down the court and passed the ball to sophomore Christian Manoli (San Rafael, Calif./Terra Linda) who then found Brophy in front of the Tartans' bench for the game-winning shot.
During the first half of play, Emory grabbed the early 9-7 lead and held on to it until a three-pointer by Tartan sophomore Asad Meghani (Dallas, Texas/The Greenhill School) that made the score 23-21 with 6:30 to play in the half. Carnegie Mellon continued to hold the lead the rest of the frame, as they went into the locker room with a 40-33 advantage.
Emory chipped into the Tartans lead over the first seven minutes of the second half before taking its first lead of the stanza, 58-56, following a trey by Alex Greven. The visitor's lead grew to five before the Tartans scored eight straight to retake the lead at 65-61.
Greven then answered the Cardinal and Gray with two straight treys to give Emory a 67-65 edge. The lead was one that lasted 19 seconds, as Meghani drained a long ball on the next possession down the court. Although, Emory tied the score two more times, the lead for the Tartans was one they never surrender the rest of the way.
Carnegie Mellon ended the game shooting 48.3% from the floor and 50.0% (9-18) from long distance while Emory shot 48.4% and 30.0% (6-20) from behind the arc. Carnegie Mellon also had its best showing of the season from the charity stripe converting 15-16 for 93.8%. Emory was 13-22 for 59.1%.
The Tartans had four players score in double figures with senior Joe Kromka (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) leading the way with 18 points. Manoli ended the game scoring 17 points and dished out four assists. Senior John Duhring (Round Hill, Va./St. Maria Goretti) was 3-4 from behind the arc and finished the game with 15 points and a game-high eight rebounds. The senior also handed out four assists while junior Andre Moore (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) chipped in with 12 points.
Greven led the way for Emory with a game-high 27 points. Michael Friedberg and Jake Davis each had 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Tartans will next entertain the University of Rochester Yellowjackets Sunday, February 19. Tip is slated for 12:00 p.m.