Tartan Open Season With a 92-69 Win at La Roche, DeJardin Knocks in Career-High

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team opened its 2023-24 season with a 92-69 win at La Roche College on Wednesday night.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 92, La Roche 69
Records: Carnegie Mellon (1-0), La Roche (1-0)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Kerr Fitness Center | Coach Scott Lang Court)

How it Happened

• At the 13-minute mark of the first half, the Redhawks took a 13-12 advantage before the Tartans used a 12-2 run over the next three and led 24-15.
• Carnegie Mellon run extended to 19-4, as the Tartan grabbed their largest lead of the half at 31-17 with 7:22 to play and then took a 46-35 advantage into the break.
• Three minutes into the second half, Carnegie Mellon started a run of scoring nine straight points and led 61-20 at the 15:27 mark. During the run junior Lucas Pavlounis accounted for four of the nine Cardinal and Gray points.
• The Tartans controlled the rest of the contest and never saw their lead dip below 15 points the rest of the way, as they went on for the 92-69 victory.

Tartan Stats

• The Tartans ended the game shooting 63.6% (35-55) from the floor and converted 10-of-18 (55.6%) from behind the arc.
• Sophomore Buckley DeJardin led the Tartans with a career-high 24 points while converting 9-of-12 from the floor and connected three triples.
• Junior Justin Allen recorded a double-double with 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Allen also dished out a career-best six assists to lead the Tartans.
• Senior R.J. Holmes also scored in double figures with 14 points. The senior also tied a career-best with five assists.
• Pavlounis ended the game with a career-high eight points in the win.

Redhawk Stats

• The Redhawks ended the game shooting 38.1% (24-63) from the floor and converted 4-of-23 (17.4%) from behind the arc.
• Michael Brooks led La Roche with 18 points while Joe Starzynski and Bryce Epps ended with 12 and 13, respectively.

Game Notes

• It marked the fourth time since the 2005-06 season that Carnegie Mellon shot over 60% from the floor in a contest. The school record is 65.5% which came in a win over Brandeis in 2006.
• It was Allen's second career doble-double.
• Carnegie Mellon has made at least one three-point basket in 541 straight contests.
• The Tartans have now won 12 straight games when shooting over 50.0% from the floor.

Up Next

• Carnegie Mellon will travel to Spokane, Washington to play the Pirates of Whitworth University on Friday, November 10. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.