Freshman Christian Manoli's (San Rafael, Calif./Terra Linda) blocked shot with less than three seconds remaining lifted the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team to a 53-52 upset victory over #13 Brandeis University on the hardwood of Skibo Gymnasium Friday, January 14.  The University Athletic Association (UAA) victory improves the Tartans record to 4-8, 1-1 while Brandeis drops its first contest of the season moving to 11-1, 1-1.

Brandeis used a 10-0 run midway through the first period to take a 21-13 lead while the Tartans went 0-for-7 from the floor over the same five-minute stretch. Carnegie Mellon later used an 11-5 run ending with two free throws by senior Shane Rife (Mercersburg, Pa./James Buchanan) to tie the score at 29-29 with 2:25 to go in the half.  During the Tartans' run, Manoli knocked down two straight field goals, including one from behind the arc.

After Rife's shots from the charity stripe, Tyrone Hughes drained a three-point shot as the Judges maintained the advantage the rest of the half leading 34-31 at the break.  Carnegie Mellon ended the first twenty minutes of action shooting 6-of-9 from behind the arc while the Judges knocked down 4-of-7.

Carnegie Mellon came out of the break strong with a 12-3 run to take a 43-37 lead with 11:19 to go.  The Tartans defense continued to hold strong, as they held Brandeis without a field goal for a 12-minute stretch allowing the home team to build its largest lead of the game, 46-38, with 7:12 left in the contest following a pair of foul shots by junior Joe Kromka (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway).
 
Over the next six minutes Brandeis went on a 12-4 run knotting the score at 50-50 with 55 ticks remaining ending with a pair of foul shots by Hughes.  On the ensuing possession junior John Duhring (Round Hill, Va./St. Maria Goretti) found Rife on a transition bucket to put the Tartans back on top. Hughes then made two more from the line making the score 52-52 with 33.6 seconds on the clock. 

Manoli was fouled bringing the ball up court and went to the line for two shots.  After making the first, the second fell short leaving the score 53-52 Carnegie Mellon with 28.6 showing on the clock. Brandeis then elected to hold the ball for one last shot. As Ben Bartoldus curled from the baseline in to the elbow, his shot with less than three seconds remaining was swatted away by Manoli and the Tartans went on for the 53-52 victory.

Carnegie Mellon out rebounded Brandeis 39-36 marking just the third time the Tartans have done so all season, as they have won all three contests.  The cardinal and Gray ended the game shooting 41.2% (7-17) from behind the arc while the Judges shot 29.4% (5-17).

Manoli, Rife and freshman Rashaun Riley (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) each scored 10 points to lead the Tartans.  Rife and Duhring each grabbed a game-high seven rebounds in the victory.

Hughes led Brandeis with a game-high 13 points while Ruben Kanya finished the game with 11.

The Tartans will next host New York University on Sunday, January 16 at 12:00 p.m.