Despite Mish, Men's Basketball Succumbs to #21 Carnegie Mellon

Senior Goes for 24 Points, 12 Boards in 79-73 Road Defeat

D.J. Glavan was one of four double-digit scorers in the loss.

Another superb effort by John Mish was not enough to overcome a second-half cold stretch as New York University succumbed to #21-ranked Carnegie Mellon University, 79-73, in University Athletic Association (UAA) men's basketball action Sunday afternoon at Skibo Gymnasium in Pittsburgh.

Mish turned his second straight double-double and eighth overall, finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead four double-digit scorers who accounted for all but eight of the Violets' (14-8, 3-8 UAA) offensive output. It was the senior captain's fifth 20-point-plus effort this season, following Friday's 28-point, 12-rebound showing in a victory at the University of Rochester.

D.J. Glavan added 16 points, while Keith Jensen (13 in 19 minutes before fouling out) and Richie Polan (12 tallies) also reached double figures for NYU, which shot 53.8% overall (28-for-52), including 57.1% (8-for-15) from beyond the three-point arc, and went 9-for-10 at the charity stripe.

However, led by Ryan Einwag's game-high 25 points, Carnegie Mellon went 21-for-28 (75.0%) from the foul line, converted 19 NYU turnovers into 21 points and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds to extend several second-half possessions. The Tartans, who were outrebounded 31-29, shot 46.6% (27-for-58) from the floor and 33.3 (4-for-12) from long range.

"I really was pleased with our overall effort," NYU head coach Joe Nesci said. "I thought the guys really battled hard. Carnegie's obviously a really talented and experienced club. I thought we played them pretty even in the second half. We just needed to do a better job in the first half of taking care of the ball."

After shooting a season first-half best 68.2% (15-for-22), the Violets held a 49-46 lead with 15:55 remaining after Polan sank all three of his free-throw attempts. However, NYU went the next 6:50 without a point and 8:20 without a field goal until Jensen swished a trey with 9:05 remaining in regulation.

In the meantime, Carnegie Mellon got six points Einwag during a 9-0 outburst that turned a three-point deficit into a 55-49 cushion. NYU never climbed closer than three points the rest of the way.

The second half provided a contrast to the opening 20 minutes for the Violets. After seizing a 7-0 lead at the outset, Carnegie Mellon countered with 13 of the next 15 points, eventually extending its advantage to 27-19 before NYU answered back. Glavan produced six points, while Jensen and Andy Stein each added five during an ensuing 16-6 spurt that put the Violets up 35-31 just 3:55 before the break.

However, a four-point play by Jack Anderson (18 points) highlighted a half-ending 8-0 burst as the Tartans left the court with a 39-35 halftime lead. Carnegie Mellon shot 51.6% (16-for-31) in the opening period.

NYU returns home for the final three games of its regular-season slate, beginning Friday, Feb. 20, with an 8 p.m. tip-off against Case Western Reserve University. The NYU Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will host an event to promote awareness and raise money for breast cancer research through the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone initiative.