PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Brandeis University men's basketball team never led today as the Judges suffered a 72-58 defeat at the hands of Carnegie Mellon in University Athletic Association (UAA) play. The Judges fall to 5-15 overall, 1-8 in the UAA. CMU avenges a loss from last weekend to pick up their first conference win of the season, improving to 5-15, 1-8 UAA.
The Tartans opened up leads of 13-2 and 20-4 as they hit eight of their first nine shots and never looked back. The hosts increased the lead to 45-24 at halftime as they shot 56.3% from the field (18-32) and held Brandeis to 32.3% (10-31). CMU also handily won the rebounding battle in the first 20 minutes, 28-10.
The Judges improved on defense in the second half, opening the stanza on an 11-2 run of their own over the first four minutes to get within 47-35. CMU answered with the game's next five points to give themselves some more breathing room. Brandeis fought to within 11 points at the midpoint of the second half, but the Judges missed four-straight 3-pointers to try to get closer, with the Tartans answering with a bucket on the other end. The hosts pushed the lead back to a game-high 22 with 5:52 left on a 3-pointer that made it 66-44. The Judges got within the final 14-point margin by closing on a 14-6 run, but it was too little, too late. Brandeis held CMU to 39.3% (11-28) in the second half, but the Judges shot the exact same from the field. The Judges also hit three more 3-pointers and four more free throws than their opponents, while winning the rebound game after the break, 24-18, but it wasn't enough.
Individually, sophomore Collin Sawyer (New London, Conn./New London) led the Judges with 14 points, 11 coming in the second half. He shot 3-for-8 from the field, 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 6-of-6 from the line. Senior Latye Workman (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bedford Academy) posted his third double-double of the season and his career with 10 points and 10 rebounds, tied for game-high honors. Rookie Chandler Jones (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Commonwealth Academy) had a fine all-around game with eight points and team- and career-highs of five assists and three blocked shots.
Carnegie Mellon was paced by four starters in double figures. Trent Suddeth scored 11 of his game-high 15 points in the second half. He also matched Workman with 10 rebounds. Guards Colin McNeil and Zach Howarth each finished with 11 points, combining for 14 in the first half. McNeil tied with Brandeis's Jones for game-high honors with five assists. Ryan Maha, who missed the first game between the teams, had 10 points, all in the first half. The Tartans finished with a 48.3% to 35.6% edge in field goal shooting and a 46-34 rebounding advantage.
Brandeis returns home next weekend for a matchup with UAA leader and No. 2-ranked Washington University on Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.