Henry’s Double-Double Propels Tartans to 85-71 Win Over Case Western Reserve to Open UAA Play

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team hosted the Spartans of Case Western Reserve University on Saturday in the University Athletic Association (UAA) opener for both teams with the Tartans coming away with an 85-71 victory. The win evens the Tartans record at 6-6 while the Spartans move to 7-5.

Five Tartans scored in double figures with senior Seth Henry (Fulton, Md./Reservoir) tabbing his fourth double-double of the season, as he poured in a game-best 25 points, after converting 10-of-13 from the floor, and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Sophomore Zach Watson (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) scored a season-best 15 points and went 8-of-9 from the foul line while junior Zach Howarth (Freehold, N.J./St. John Vianney) ended the night with 14 and went perfect from the charity stripe converting all six of his shots. Sophomore Ethan Miller (King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion) and junior Trent Suddeth (Winter Park, Fla./Trinity Prep) each finished with 11 an 10 points, respectively.

Carnegie Mellon shot 47.5% (28-59) from the floor while CWRU shot 32.4% (23-71). The Tartans were nearly perfect from the foul line as they converted a season-best 25-of-27 for 92.6%, as the Spartans shot 69.2% (18-26) from the line. For the ninth time this season, Carnegie Mellon held the advantage on the glass, 44-41. The Tartans handed out a season-high 20 assists in the win with junior Colin McNeil (Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional) leading with five. Howarth and Suddeth each dished out four, as it marked a career-best for Suddeth.

Monty Khela led the Spartans with 14 points. Michael Volkening had 11 points and Ryan Newton scored 10. Michael Hollis grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds for CWRU while recording nine points.

Carnegie Mellon used a 10-0 run early in the first half and built a 14-7 advantage with 14 minutes to play in the first half following a triple by Miller. The Spartans responded with a 12-2 surge of their own over the next five minutes of play to grab a 19-16 lead. The string of runs continued, as the Cardinal and Gray used an 8-1 scamper that ballooned to a 19-6 run, and nine straight to end the half, to take a 35-25 lead into the locker room.

Case Western Reserve used a 13-3 run midway through the second half and cut the deficit to 49-47 with 9:36 to play. Carnegie Mellon responded as they did in the first half with another 8-1 spurt and this time turned into an 18-6 to push the lead back to double figures at 67-53 with 5:24 showing on the clock. The home team continued to hold a double-digit lead the rest of the way and went on for the 85-71 UAA victory.

Carnegie Mellon will continue UAA play when it hosts Brandeis University on Friday, January 11 at 8:00 p.m.