Tartans Defeat Bethany at Home, 82-74

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team won its home opener Saturday, November 21 against Bethany College, 82-74. The Tartans are now 2-0 on the year while the Bison fall to 1-2.

The Tartans moved the ball and assisted on 20 of 30 made baskets for the night. The lead was seven at the half, 40-33, with junior Jack Serbin (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) leading all scorers with 15 points. The Tartans shot 62.5% in the first half and held the Bison to a shooting percentage of .310.

The Bison closed the first half with a 7-0 run and opened the second half with four straight to cut the deficit to three before sophomore Ryan Maha (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) scored on a layup to put the Tartans ahead 42-37.

That layup started a string of four consecutive made baskets by Maha, as he hit a jumper on the Tartans' next possession and drained back-to-back three-pointers after a jumper by Serbin. Maha's second trey put the Tartans up 52-44 with 14:49 to play.

The next five-and-a-half minutes saw the Bison pull within three points but the Tartans never relinquished the lead, as an 8-2 run put the home squad ahead 70-61 with 6:41 to play after two free throws by sophomore Thomas Cook (Baltimore, Md./Carver Arts & Tech.).

Serbin led the Tartans with his second double-double of the season with 24 points and 18 rebounds to go with five assists. Maha tied his career-high of 20 points, made five three-pointers and handed out four assists. Freshman Patrick Ehland (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) tallied 14 points in the win while senior Jason Sebak (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Prep) had a season-high seven assists. Also scoring in double figures for the Tartans was junior Chris Shkil () with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor.

Bethany was led by Calique Jones's 18 points.

The Tartans will be back in action on Tuesday, November 24 when they host Allegheny College at 8:00 p.m.