From Carnegie Mellon University Athletics

A 23-12 game-closing run by the Carnegie Mellon University men's basketball team led the Tartans to a 79-69 victory at Case Western Reserve University on Saturday evening to finish out the University Athletic Association (UAA) season. Senior Jack Serbin (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) led the Tartans, now 14-11 and 8-6, with 28 points and 19 rebounds. The Spartans finish the year at 8-17 and 3-11.

Joining Serbin in double digits for the Tartans was senior Chris Shkil (Mentor, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) and junior Ryan Maha (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) with 12 points apiece. Serbin also led the team in assists with four while Maha and freshman Colin McNeil (Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional) each dished out three assists.

Serbin had the hot hand early for the Tartans making 5-of-7 from the field to tie the game at 18-18 with just less than 10 minutes to play in the half. After the Spartans had a 10-2 run, the Tartans answered to take their first lead since the 12:48 mark, 30-28, behind eight points from Serbin.

The teams traded baskets for the final four minutes with a three-pointer at the buzzer by Javier Alvarez, giving the Spartans a 36-34 advantage at the break.

Serbin led all scorers with 19 points at halftime on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, as the Tartans shot 42.4% and the Spartans 37.1%.

The second half was another back-and-forth affair until freshman David Huber (Hampton, Pa./Vermont Academy) drained a three-pointer to give the Tartans a 59-57 lead with 8:57 to go. Huber knocked down another trey on the next possession for the Tartans, who held the lead the rest of the way, pushing it to as many as 12 on back-to-back layups by Shkil with 2:36 to go.

The Tartans were even better from the field in the second half, making 14-of-28, to finish the game shooting 45.9%. The three-point arc was huge for the Tartans in the second frame, as the Cardinal and Gray made 5-of-9 from long range to finish with six made for the game.