Tartans Open UAA Challenge With 87-73 Win Over Hamilton

(MIDDLEBURY, Vt.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team opened play at the 2023 UAA Challenge on Saturday at Middlebury College. For the second consecutive game, five Tartans scored in double figures to lead Carnegie Meloon to an 87-73 victory over Hamilton College.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 87, Hamilton 73
Records: Carnegie Mellon (7-1), Hamilton (2-4)
Location: Middlebury, Vt. (Pepin Gymnasium)

How it Happened

• Five minutes into the game the Tartans trailed 13-8 before scoring 10 straight points to take a 18-13 lead at the 12:13 mark of the first half. During the run, sophomore Justin Allen accounted for seven points.  
• The lead changed six times before the end of the first twenty minutes of action with the final time coming off a senior Jack Stone jumper with four minutes to play that made the score 35-34.
• Stone's bucket sparked a 12-5 run for the Tartans to close the half, as the Cardinal and Gray went into the locker room with a 45-39 advantage.
• The Tartans held the lead to start the second frame until the 12:34 mark when Hamilton's Hank Morgan drained a pair of foul shots to give the Continentals a 59-57 lead.
• Hamilton then led 68-65 with 9:24 to play, as Carnegie Mellon then scored eight straight points and didn't trail the rest of the way. A made layup at 6:45 on the clock by junior Jonathan Milloway had the scoreboard showing 73-68 Tartans.
• After a made three-point bucket by Morgan, Carnegie Mellon then closed the game scoring 14 of the last 16 points. Over the final 6:30 of action.

Tartan Stats

• Carnegie Mellon shot 47.4% from the floor while converting 10-of-18 from behind the arc.
• The Tartans shot a season-best 85.2% from the foul line while also making a season-best 23 on 28 attempts.
• Five Tartans scored in double figures with Allen leading the way with 25 points. Senior R.J. Holmes scored 17 with sophomore Buckley DeJardin finishing with 12 points.
• Off the bench, Stone and junior Aidan Murphy each had 10 points, as the Tartans benched outscored the Continentals 26-11.
• Holmes led the Tartans with a game-high seven rebounds.

Continental Stats

• Hamilton shot 42.4% from the floor while converting 8-of-31 from behind the arc.
• The Continental were 9-of-13 from the foul line.
• Morgan led Hamilton with a game-high 30 points with Garret Keyhani finishing with 16 points.

Game Notes

• The series is now tied at 1-1.
• The Tartans have now won nine straight contests when five or more players score in double figures and are 2-0 this season.
• The Tartans are 3-0 this season when holding their opponent to 73 points or less and have won 16 of the last 17 games when doing so.
• Allen and DeJardin have scored in double figures in all eight games this season.

Up Next

• Carnegie Mellon will continue play in the UAA Challenge on Sunday, December 3 with a 3:00 p.m. tip against Bowdoin College.