WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Despite a double-double performance of a career-high 27 points and 13 rebounds from Kyran Mitchell (Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic), the Washington & Jefferson men's basketball team dropped a 104-99 decision to visiting Carnegie Mellon University in overtime Saturday afternoon at Salvitti Family Gymnasium. 

Five Presidents scored in double figures in the loss. Mitchell, who recorded his third double-double of the season, added eight assists and five steals in the setback. J.R. Mazza (Bridgeport, W.Va./University) finished with a career-high 23 points, which included five made three-pointers. Michael Bigley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle) added 16 points while Nick Gearhart (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) tallied 11 and Alexander Skowron (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) added 10 points and four blocks despite only playing 18 minutes due to foul trouble. 

The Tartans raced out to an early 10-4 lead after a bucket by Sean Oberman at the 16:42 mark. W&J countered with a 12-6 run to even the score at 16-16 on a jumper by Mitchell with 14:39 to play in the first half. Trailing by a 25-24 margin, Bigley knocked down a three-point field goal and Mazza followed with a layup to give the Presidents a 29-25 advantage at the 9:42 mark. Five straight points by Mitchell extended the lead to 36-29 with 8:09 to play in the opening half. 

Later in the half, Mitchell tallied six consecutive points, including a trey at the 5:49 mark to strengthen the Presidents' lead. A jumper by Dirk Daniels (Phillipsburg, N.J./Blair Academy) made it 45-31 with 5:37 to play before halftime. The 14-point lead was the largest of the game for the Presidents. The Tartans would put together a run to end the first half, as they eventually closed to within just two points (49-47) by scoring the final seven points of the half. 

That momentum carried into the second half for CMU, as a three-point play by R.J. Holmes allowed them to regain the lead at 56-55 with 17:05 to play in regulation. Later in the half, Holmes tallied five straight points to bolster CMU's lead into double digits at 78-68 with 8:33 to play. A jumper by Jack Stone gave the Tartans an 87-77 at the 4:57 mark. Mazza and Mitchell accounted for nine points during a 12-2 run that evened the score. A three-pointer by Gearhart tied the score at 89 with 1:21 to play. A layup by Holmes gave CMU a two-point lead with 39 seconds to play. However, Gearhart slipped to the basket and converted a layup with nine seconds to play to force overtime. 

W&J never led during the overtime session. A layup by Isaiah Langston (Coraopolis, Pa./Cornell) cut the CMU lead to 98-97 with 56 seconds to play in overtime. Holmes helped put the game away, draining his first and only three-point attempt, giving CMU a two-possession lead at 101-97 with 35 seconds left. The Tartans made three-of-four free throw attempts over the final 21 seconds to finish off the victory. 

W&J converted 49.4 percent of its field goal attempts (40-81) and made 10 three-point field goals. However, the Presidents missed 10 free throw attempts (9-19) while CMU converted 15-of-21 attempts at the charity stripe. The Tartans held a narrow 51-47 advantage over the Presidents in rebounding. 

R.J. Holmes finished with a game-high 32 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead CMU. Sean Oberman added 25 points for the Tartans. 

The Presidents, who are now 4-2 overall, will travel to Westminster for its Presidents' Athletic Conference opener on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.