Tartans Battle Strong in Loss at Brandeis

(WALTHAM, Mass.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team dropped a 69-62 decision to the Judges of Brandeis University on Friday, January 11 in Waltham, Mass. The Tartans fall to 0-2 in University Athletic Association play and 3-10 overall while the Judges remain unbeaten at 2-0 in the UAA and are 11-2 overall.

Junior Rashaun Riley (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) put the Tartans ahead 19-18 on a layup down the middle of the lane with 8:33 to play, but the Judges scored five unanswered to regain the lead.  The home team held the lead the rest of the half and took a 29-24 lead into the locker room.

In a half that saw six lead changes, Tartan junior Rob Mohen (Stamford, Conn./Regis (NY)) converted his first five shot attempts and led all scorers with 13 first half points.

Brandeis claimed a 38-27 lead after starting the second half on a 9-3, but the Tartans responded scoring eight straight to cut the lead to 38-35 with 13:53 to play in the half. Over the next five minutes, Brandeis answered with a 9-2 run to push its lead back to double figures at 47-37.

The Tartans did not go down without a fight dropping a 69-62 decision.  The Tartans edged the Judges by shooting 39.0% from the floor to their 37.7%. Senior Andre Moore (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) and Mohen led the Tartans with 18 points each.  For Mohen it tied a career-high. Junior Asad Meghani (Dallas, Texas/The Greenhill School) also scored in double figures cashing in with 11 points.

Ishmael Kalilou led the Judges with 16 points coming off the bench while Gabriel Moton finished with 15 points.

Carnegie Mellon now heads to New York University where they will face the Violets on Sunday, January 13 at 12:00 p.m.