Men’s Basketball Falls Short at #10 Brandeis 84-81

Feb. 17 – (WALTHAM, Mass.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men’s basketball team concluded their regular season road schedule Sunday, February 17 with an 84-81 setback to the 10th-ranked Judges of Brandeis University in University Athletic Association (UAA). The Tartans move to 14-8, 4-7 following the loss, as the Judges are now 18-4, 8-3.

The Tartans took an early 14-7 lead on an and-one attempt by junior Terrance Bouldin-Johnson (Tukwila, Wash./O’Dea) at the 16:23 mark. Over the next three minutes Brandeis went on a 10-2 run taking their first lead of the game at 17-16 and the advantage to 24-21 at the half way point.

Carnegie Mellon answered the Judges run with a 16-3 run of their own that spanned over 4:41 giving the Tartans a 37-27 lead with 5:29 on the clock. Brandeis did not go away scoring seven unanswered, but Tartan junior Corey O’Rourke (Merion, Pa./St. Joe Prep) drilled a three-pointer sheltering a 43-40 halftime lead for the visitors.

Senior Greg Gonzalez (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) and junior Ryan Einwag (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) led the Cardinal and Gray at the break with ten points apiece. Gonzalez was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, as the team was 14-of-16.

With the Tartans leading 55-47 four and a half minutes into the second half the Judges went on a 7-0 run to pull within one. Three minutes later Brandeis took their first lead of the second half and first since 7:58 of the first frame when senior Stephen Hill hit the first of two foul shots making the score 60-59 with 9:28 to play.

Carnegie Mellon regained the lead at 70-69 following four straight foul shots by Gonzalez, but on the Judges en suing possession Hill connected on a fade-away jumper giving Brandeis the lead back with 4:44 to play in regulation. The Judges would hold the lead the rest of the contest and came away with an 84-81.

Carnegie Mellon had five players in double figures headed by Gonzalez’s 21. The senior finished 11-of-12 from the line and hauled in a career-high 14 rebounds for his second straight double-double and eighth of the season. Sophomore Jack Anderson (Beaver Falls, Pa.) tallied 14 points, O’Rourke cashed in with 13 and Einwag and Bouldin-Johnson had 12 each. Bouldin-Johnson tied a career-high with nine rebounds and set a career-high with five block shots.

Brandeis also had five players in double figures headed by senior Joe Coppens’ game-high 23. Junior guard Kevin Olson added 16, sophomore Andre Roberson had 14, sophomore Terrell Hollins had 13 and Hill finished with 11.

Carnegie Mellon was edged on the glass for only the sixth time this season as the Judges hauled down 33 to the Tartans 31. Brandeis finished shooting 50.9% from the field, as Carnegie Mellon shot 47.2%.

Carnegie Mellon will continue UAA play when they return home after their four game road trip Friday, February 22. The Tartans will face Emory University at 8:00 p.m.