Brandeis men fall to CMU in UAA opener, 103-85

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the season with authority, shooting 75 percent from the floor in the second half and 66 percent for the game as they defeated host Brandeis University, 103-85, in University Athletic Association action in Auerbach Arena tonight.

Carnegie Mellon (11-1, 2-0 UAA), ranked No. 18 in the nation by d3hoops.com, placed five players in double figures as they hit 38-of-58 shots for the game, including 18-of-24 in the second half. Senior guard Marques Johnson (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led all scorers with a career-high 32 points, hitting 11-of-13 from the floor, including three-of-four from 3-point range. He also hit seven-of-eight free throws. Johnson tied with four other players for game-high rebounding honors with five caroms and led all players with eight assists.

Also scoring at least 10 points for the Tartans were senior forward Clayton Barlow-Wilcox (Brookline, Mass.), who had 14 points and four boards; senior guard Barry Dunn (Pittsburgh, Pa.) with 13 points off the bench; rookie forward Ryan Einwag (Pittsburgh, Pa.) with 12 points in 14 minutes of action; and senior forward Nate Maurer (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added 10 points and five boards. The Tartans reached 100 points for the third time this season.

Brandeis (7-4, 0-1 UAA) dropped its UAA opener despite putting four players in double figures themselves. Rookie Huston Conti (Edmonds, Wash.) set a new career-high with 14 points in 11 minutes off the bench, hitting four-of-six from the floor, including both attempts from beyond the arc, and all four free throws. Junior transfer Ido Givon (Givatim, Israel) and sophomore forward Steve DeLuca (Merrimack, N.H.) each had 11 points, while sophomore guard Kwame Graves-Fulgham (Amherst, Mass.) added 10 points and a team-high six assists. Brandeis shot the ball respectably, hitting 49 percent for the game (31-63), but the Judges couldn't overcome CMUs hot shooting.

Both teams continue the UAA weekend on Sunday, when Brandeis hosts Rochester and the Tartans travel to NYU for 1 p.m. games.