(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team opened its 2024-25 season by hosting La Roche College on Friday, November 8. The Tartans won 66-64 with senior Nolan Casey scoring the team's final four points in the last minute of the game.

Game Information
Carnegie Mellon 66, La Roche 64
Records: Carnegie Mellon (1-0), La Roche (0-1)
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Highmark Center)

How it Happened

• The Redhawks held a 10-0 lead 12 minutes into the game.
• The Tartans first basket in the Highmark Center came off a layup by junior Buckley DeJardin that broke up a 0-12 start from the field by the Tartans.
• The Tartans fought their way back to a 15-14 lead on a dunk by graduate student R.J. Holmes with 6:38 to go in the first half.
• The lead would change hands six times before the break with the Tartans scoring the last five points of the half on a jump shot by DeJardin and a three-pointer by junior Justin Allen to lead 28-23.
• The Tartans saw their largest lead four minutes into the second half when another dunk by Holmes made it 39-29.
• Over the next four minutes and change, the Redhawks used a 12-2 run to take back the lead at 43-41.
• The rest of the second half was neck and neck with seven lead changes and five ties, including the last tie at 62-all with 1:13 to go before Casey's final two baskets and a La Roche layin as time expired.

Tartan Stats

• The Tartans ended the game shooting 40.3% (25-62) from the floor and converted 7-of-25 (28%) from behind the arc.
• Holmes led the Tartans with a total of 19 points. He also had 13 rebounds for his 23 career double-double.
• Allen finished with 16 points while DeJardin had 11.
• Casey had four assists to go with six points. 

Redhawk Stats

• The Redhawks ended the game shooting 34.3% (23-67) from the floor and converted 7-26 (26.9%) from behind the arc.
• Bryce Epps led the Redhawks with 20 points.
• Joe Starzynski and Michael Brooks also had 14 and 13 points, respectively, with Starzynski grabbing 12 rebounds.

Up Next

The Tartans will compete at Chatham University on Wednesday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m.