Late Run Separates Tartans from Maroons for Home UAA Victory

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team hit free throws down the stretch and opened its University Athletic Association (UAA) home schedule with a 66-60 victory against the University of Chicago on Friday, January 20.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 66, UChicago 60
Records: Carnegie Mellon (10-5, 2-2 UAA), UChicago (7-8, 0-4 UAA)

How it Happened

• Five different players scored the first five baskets for the Tartans with freshman Justin Allen converting a layup to tie the score at 11-11 six minutes and 33 seconds into the game.
• There were four lead changes in the first half with the Maroons holding a 36-30 lead at halftime after junior Jack Stone hit a jump shot at the buzzer.
• The Maroons had three different eight-point leads in the first half with the Tartans pouring in a 9-0 run to take a 24-23 lead after the first eight-point advantage for the visitors.
• A dunk by junior R.J. Holmes less than five minutes into the second half closed a 10-3 run that gave the Tartans their first lead since the 24-23 advantage in the first period.
• Twice the Tartans hit three-pointers to tie the score in the second frame – one by Allen to make it 46-all midway through the half and another by senior Nick Nakasian which made it 53-all with 5:35 to go.
• The Tartans closed the final five minutes with a 13-7 run which included going 6-of-6 from the free throw line over the final minute after the game was knotted at 60.

Tartan Stats

• Holmes led four Tartans in double figures with 17 points.
• Stone finished with 15 points and made 2-of-3 from behind the arc.
• Allen and Nakasian each scored 11.
• Stone recorded a career-best five steals as the Tartans picked up a season-best 12 steals in the game.
• Senior Josh Berry led the team with seven rebounds, all on the defensive end.

Maroon Stats

• Arrish Bhandal led with 14 points.
• Bryce Hopkins tallied a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.
• Thomas Kurowski also scored in double figures with 12 points.

Game Notes

• The Tartans shot better than 45% for the eighth game and second straight.
• The Tartans took a season-low seven three-pointers but made 57.1% of them.
• The Tartans made just 10-of-18 free throws but made the last six attempts count with the game on the line.

Up Next

• Carnegie Mellon will host Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday, January 22 at 12:00 p.m. The game against the 22nd-ranked Bears will be the sixth game against a ranked opponent for the Tartans this year.