Nationally Ranked Catholic Upends Tartans at Home

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - For the second consecutive game, the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team played a nationally ranked opponent, its third such matchup of the season and fell at home 60-46 to No. 12 Catholic University. Senior Andre Moore (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) led the Tartans (1-7) while the Cardinals (6-1) were led by Chris Kearney.

Early in the game the Tartans were up to the challenge, as Moore hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 10-10 with 13 minutes to play in the first period.

It wasn't until after the 10-minute mark when junior Sean Brophy (Blue Bell, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) made a free throw to pull the Tartans within 20-15 that the Cardinals were able to create some distance. The visitors made five baskets to end the period on a 10-4 run while the Tartans hit just one shot and one free throw, ending the period with a .359 shooting percentage to the Cardinals .452.

The 11-point gap ended up being all the Cardinals needed despite a 42.9% shooting effort by the Tartans in the second period.

Catholic hit its first six shots of the second period to extend its lead to 44-30 while Moore and sophomore Jasen Blakney (Raleigh, N.C./Enloe) each hit two baskets, preventing the Cardinals from getting too much further ahead.

Blakney and Brophy each pulled the Tartans within 10 points with layups but the home squad could not get any closer as the Cardinals went on for the 14-point victory.

Moore finished with a career-high five three-pointers made to total 17 points as Blakney finished with seven points. Five different Tartans led the team with three rebounds.

Kearney ended the game with 25 points for the Cardinals with Shawn Holmes dropping in 16 points.

The Tartans will rest from action until the 20th of December when they host La Roche College at 7:00 p.m. in Skibo Gymnasium.