Einwag, Rife and Anderson Lead Men’s Basketball Over Christopher Newport

Dec. 20 – (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men’s basketball team hosted Christopher Newport University Thursday, December 20 and came away with an 83-63 victory on the hardwood of Skibo Gymnasium. The Tartans second straight victory improves their overall record to 5-2, as the Captains fall to 1-7.

The first half was a game of runs for Carnegie Mellon. The Tartans managed three important scoring scurries to take a 35-27 lead into the locker room. Christopher Newport took an early 10-5 lead, but Carnegie Mellon rattled off ten unanswered points taking a 15-10 lead with 14:22 to play in the first half.

During the Tartans first run junior Ryan Einwag (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) connected on back-to-back three-point shots extending the Carnegie Mellon’s streak of consecutive games with a three-pointer to 167. After the Captains cut the Tartans lead to 15-14, the Cardinal and Gray went on a 9-1 run pushing their lead to 24-15 with 8:12 left in the first stanza.

Before the end of the half the Tartans once again put together a run, this time out scoring the Captains 7-2, giving them their biggest lead of the half 35-25 and went to take a 35-27 lead at the break. Einwag led all scores after the first twenty minutes of play with 16 points including a three-of-four showing from behind the arc.

The Captains came out of the locker room with something to prove to start the second half. Christopher Newport outscored Carnegie Mellon 18-11 over the first 6:14 of the frame. The Tartans put a stop to the Captains threat putting together a 12-2 run over the next three minutes and going on to the 83-63 victory.

Carnegie Mellon dominated the glass out rebounding Christopher Newport 51-30 including 20 offensive rebounds that turned into 20 second chance points. The Tartans shot 48.5% from the floor, while the Captains ended the game shooting 40.6%.

Einwag led all scorers with a season-high 28 points finishing four-of-six from behind the arc. The junior also hauled in a season-high nine boards and recorded three assists. Freshman Shane Rife (Mercersburg, Pa./James Buchanan) turned in a career night performance tallying a career-high 11 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Sophomore Jack Anderson (Beaver Falls, Pa.) tied his career-high for the third time this season cashing in with 14 points and junior Corey O’Rourke (Merion, Pa./St. Joe Prep) ended the night with a season-high eight assists.

Christopher Newport was led by junior Davon Barton’s 21 points and junior Thomas Whinnett’s 13. Barton also dished out five assists for the Captains.

The Tartans will be back in action Monday, December 31 as they travel to Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m.