Shooting Struggles Hurt Tartans in Contest with Brandeis

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team hosted Brandeis University on Friday, January 12 for its second University Athletic Association (UAA) contest of the season. The Judges upended the Tartans by a 78-61 score after having their second-best shooting effort from the field the season at 53.2%.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 61, Brandeis 78
Records: Carnegie Mellon (9-4, 1-1), Brandeis (10-3, 1-1)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Wiegand Gym)

How it Happened

• The first five minutes was a back-and-forth affair with the Tartans leading by three on three different occasions including a game-opening triple by sophomore Buckley DeJardin.
• A driving layup by Brandeis' Sam Adusei gave the visitors a one-point lead which they ballooned to as many as 16 points with a 20-4 run over seven minutes and 16 seconds of action.
• The Tartans answered with a 13-5 spurt to close the final 6:44 of the half to trail by eight, 37-29, at the break.
• The Tartans got to the foul line in the first half, converting 10-of-16 attempts but the Judges knocked down seven more shots from the field and scored 24 points in the paint during the first frame.
• The Tartans' struggles from the field continued in the second half while Brandeis remained steady and even improved from shooting 47.1% in the first half to 60.7% in the second half.
• Sophomore Justin Allen hit two free throws with 10:52 to play and the Tartans trailed by 11 with time to continue a run but the Judges scored seven straight and used a 10-2 run to extend the lead to 19 points with 6:19 to go and essentially spoiling the Tartans chance to rally.

Tartan Stats

• The Tartans ended the game shooting 32.8% (20-61) while converting 3-of-13 (23.1%) from long range.
• Allen led the Tartans with 14 points while junior Nolan Casey scored 12.
• Senior R.J. Holmes grabbed 10 rebounds to record his fifth game in double-digits for the season.

Judges Stats

• The Judges finished shooting 53.2% (33-62) from the floor and made 5-of-19 (26.3%) from behind the arc.
• Three scored in double figures with Gilbert Otoo leading with 20 points.
• Ethan Edwards scored 14 points off the bench and Jake Bender finished with 11 points.
• Aedan Using led the team with five assists while Otoo led with 10 rebounds.

Game Notes

• Brandeis now leads the all-time series by one, 35-34.
• Casey tied his career-high in points with 12.
• Allen has scored in double figures in all 13 games this season.

Up Next

• The Tartans will continue a four-game home stand with a 12:00 p.m. game against fourth-ranked New York University on Sunday, January 14.