Tartans Stun #2 Case Western Reserve by 10 Points in UAA Opener

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team opened its University Athletic Association (UAA) slate at home on Saturday against second-ranked Case Western Reserve University and upended the Spartans 84-74.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 84, #2 Case Western Reserve 74
Records: Carnegie Mellon (9-3, 1-0 UAA), #2 Case Western Reserve (11-1, 0-1 UAA)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Wiegand Gym)

How it Happened

• A triple by sophomore Buckley DeJardin at 17:48 in the first half gave the Tartans a 7-6 advantage, and a lead that the home team didn't surrender the rest of game.
• Midway through the first half, Carnegie Mellon used a 9-2 run to build a 27-17 lead following a trey by senior Jack Stone.
• Case Western Reserve climbed back and made the score 35-32 with five minutes to play, but the Cardinal and Gray answered by scoring eight of the next nine points.
• The Tartans then took an 11-point advantage (46-35) into the locker room after Stone grabbed an offensive rebound and drained a three pointer in the last second of the half. 
• The Spartans used an 11-2 run over a 3:23 stretch and pulled within a point at 55-54 with 12:42 left in the contest.
• Following an exchange of baskets, sophomore Justin Allen connected on back-to back jumpers and then junior Aidan Murphy drained a triple to push the Tartans lead to 64-56.
• With just under three minutes to play, Case Western Reserve cut the deficit to 73-71, but once again the Tartans answered scoring five straight.
• The Tartans then sealed the game converting all six foul shots in the closing minute of play with four coming off the hands of senior R.J. Holmes.

Tartan Stats

• Carnegie Mellon shot 36.7% from the floor and converted 8-29 from behind the arc. The Tartans ended the game converting 18-of-23 from the foul line.
• The Tartans held the edge on the boards 56-42, grabbing a season-high 23 offensive boards and turned them into 21 second chance points.
• Four Tartans finished in double figures with Allen leading the way with a game-high 24 points.
• Stone finished with 20 points while converting 5-of7 from behind the arc.
• Holmes scored 15 points and led all players with a career-high 17 rebounds.
• DeJardin finished the game with 10 points.

Spartan Stats

• Case Western Reserve shot 39.7% from the floor and converted 7-30 from behind the arc. The Spartans ended the game converting 13-of-20 from the foul line.
• Anthony Mazzeo led five Spartans in double figures with 17 points.
• Sam Trunley scored 16 points, Colin Kahl 12 while Umar Rashid and Luke Thorburn each chipped in with 10.

Game Notes

• This marked the Tartans second straight win over a top five opponent.
• The last meeting for the Tartans against a top five opponent was on January 28, 2022, against third-ranked WashU. The Tartans defeated the Bears 71-68 in overtime on the hardwood of Wiegand Gymnasium.
• Prior to the win over WashU in 2022, the Tartans had lost 18 straight to top 10 and nine straight to top five opponents dating back to the 2007-08 season.
• Holmes now has 18 career double-doubles, including three this season.
• Holmes has 506 rebounds for his career and becomes the 20th Tartans to reach 500 for their career in program history.

Up Next

• Carnegie Mellon will host Brandeis University on Friday, January 12 at 7:30 p.m.