Tartans End Regular Season with 76-75 Heartbreaking Loss at #12 Case Western Reserve

(CLEVELABD, Ohio) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team concluded its University Athletic Association (UAA) schedule with a 76-75 defeat to 12th-ranked Case Western Reserve University Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 75, #12 Case Western Reserve 76
Records: Carnegie Mellon (16-9, 8-6 UAA), #12 Case Western Reserve (21-4, 10-4 UAA)
Location: Cleveland, Ohio (Horsburgh Gymnasium)

How it Happened

• Four minutes into play, sophomore Justin Allen knotted the score at 8-all following a made foul shot.
• The Spartans then score six straight points and held a 14-8 advantage at the 15:11 mark of the first half.
• A three-point bucket by Tartan junior Aidan Murphy made the score 14-12, but CWRU answered scoring eight straight over the next two minutes and extended its lead to 10 points at 22-12 with 11:29 left in the first half.
• The home team took its largest lead of the half on a triple by Anthony Mazzeo with 1:24 left to make the score 42-30.
• Back-to-back long balls from junior Aidan Booher and sophomore Justin Allen to close the half cut the Tartans deficit in half and made the score 42-36 at the break.
• The Tartans run extended to 14-2 over the first three minutes of the second half as a layup by senior R.J. Holmes tied the score at 44-all.
• At the 15-minute mark, Allen recorded a steal and then took the ball down the court for a fastbreak dunk that gave the Tartans a 50-49 lead, their first since three-minutes into the game.  
• On the ensuing possession, Colin Kahl connected on a three-pointer for CWRU to give the lead right back to the home team.
• The Spartans then used a 13-2 run and extended its lead to 62-52 with the clock showing 10:31 left in regulation.
• With CWRU holding a 68-57 lead with 6:21 to play, Carnegie Mellon scored nine straight points over the next 2:15 to make the score 68-66.
• The run continued for the Tartans as it went to 14-3 and the score was knotted at 71-71 following a traditional three-point play by Holmes with 3:06 to play.
• With 6.3 seconds remaining, Umar Rashid hit a pair of foul shots to make the score 76-73 CWRU. The Tartans had a chance to tie the game but a three-point attempt by junior Nolan Casey was long and Holmes had a putback layup as time expired to end the scoring at 76-75.

Tartan Stats

• Carnegie Mellon shot 44.8% from the floor and converted 8-24 from behind the arc. The Tartans ended the game converting 7-of-11 from the foul line.
• Allen led a trio of Tartans that scored in double figures with 19 points. Holmes scored 15 and senior Jack Stone finished with 13 points.
• Holmes grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds in the setback.
• The Tartans finished with 11 steals, as Allen led all players with a career-high four.

Spartan Stats

• Case Western Reserve shot 40.4% from the floor and converted 13-36 from behind the arc. The Spartans ended the game converting 17-of-24 from the foul line.
• Anthony Mazzeo led CWRU with 19 points while Preston Maccoux and Sam Trunley cashed in with 17 and 12, respectively, off the bench. Kuhl finished with 11 points.
• Kuhl led all players with 14 rebouds.

Game Notes

• The 11 steals for the Tarans is a season-high.
• Holmes now has six double-doubles this season and 21 for his career.
• Holmes now has 607 rebounds for his career ranking 11th on the Tartans all-time career list.
• Allen has scored in double figures in 24 of the Tartans 25 contests this season.

Up Next

• Carnegie Mellon will find out on Monday afternoon if its season is extended to postseason play.