Tartans Second Half Surge Not Enough in 76-73 Loss at #9 Rochester

(ROCHESTER, N.Y.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team concluded its first full University Athletic Association (UAA) weekend on Sunday with a 76-73 setback to the ninth-ranked Yellowjackets of the University of Rochester on the road.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 73, #9 Rochester 76
Records: Carnegie Mellon (9-5, 1-2 UAA), #9 Rochester (12-2, 2-1 UAA)
Location: Rochester, N.Y. (Louis Alexander Palestra)

How it Happened

• Senior R.J. Holmes scored the first six points of the game for Carnegie Mellon as the Tartans led 6-3 at the 17:24 mark.
• Over the next eight minutes, the Cardinal and Gray were held scoreless as the Yellowjackets took advantage and scored 15 straight points to claim an 18-6 lead.
• After the Tartans started the game 3-of-19 from the floor, they connected on three straight shots and used a 7-0 run to climbed back into the contest, which made the score 22-15 with 4:16 to play in the half.
• Three minutes later, Rochester pushed its lead back to double figures before taking a 33-22 lead into the break.
• Carnegie Mellon converted 10-of-14 from the floor over the first 9:20 of play in the second half and took a 51-50 lead with 10:40 remaining following a triple by senior Sean Oberman.
• Over the next four minutes the lead changed hands five times before the Yellowjackets used a 9-0 run to take a 64-60 advantage with 4:23 showing on the clock.
• A senior Nick Nakasian layup with two minutes to play knotted the score at 68-68. After an exchange of buckets, Yellowjackets T.C. Price nailed a triple from the corner to give the home team a 73-70 edge.
• Holmes pulled the Tartans to within a point at 74-73 after converting a traditional three-point play with 16.1 seconds left in regulation.
• After a pair of made fouls shots by Matt Niemczura which made the score 76-73, the Tartans had one last chance. A Holmes three-point attempt from the top of the arc hit the front of the iron and dropped to the floor as Rochester held on for the 76-73 victory.

Tartan Stats

• The Tartans converted 6-of-11 triple in the second half after going 0-of-8 in the first half.
• Carnegie Mellon shot 47.4% (27-57) from the floor following a 18-of-27 effort (66.7%) over the final twenty minutes of play.
• Free throws continued to be strong for the Cardinal and Gray, as they finished making 13-of-14 from the line.
• Holmes led four Tartans in double figures with 18 points. The junior converted 6-of-6 from the line. Holmes also led all players with 10 rebounds to record the double-double.
• Nakasian ended with 15 points while junior Jack Stone and freshman Justin Allen each tabbed 12 points.

Yellowjacket Stats

• Rochester ended the contest shooting 53.8% (28-52) from the floor and 38.9% (7-18) from long range.
• Ross Gang led the Yellowjackets with a game-high 24 points with Matt Wiele adding 12.
• Gang also finished with a game-high six assists and five steals.

Game Notes

• Holmes now has three double-doubles this season and 13 for his career.
• It marked the second time this season the Tartans lost when shooting better than 45% from the floor. The Tartans are now 4-2 this year when shooting over 45% for the game.
• The 92.9% (13-14) effort from the charity stripe for the Tartans is the best this season.

Thoughts From Head Coach Tony Wingen

• "I'm very proud of the way we fought back and battled in the second half, but we need to come out stronger and more consistent in the first half."

Up Next

• Carnegie Mellon will open its home UAA slate on Friday, January 20 with a 7:30 p.m. tip at Wiegand Gymnasium against the Maroons of the University of Chicago.