The Justice

Media Credit: David Sheppard-Brick

As Steve DeLuca (GRAD) prepared to attempt a three-point shot from the left wing early in the second half of the Judges' game against No. 14 Carnegie Mellon University, he found Tartan junior guard Jack Anderson waving his hands right in front of his face, obstructing his view of the basket. But on this day, the heavy pressure from Anderson would not phase DeLuca, nor would, seemingly, any other Tartan defensive tactic.

DeLuca's shot went in for three of DeLuca's season-high 28 points in the game as the Judges upset the Tartans 69-57. DeLuca hit 11 of his 16 field goals to go along with 10 rebounds.

"I just wanted to make sure I got my legs under me, and I held my follow-through," DeLuca said of the three-point shot that gave Brandeis a 40-25 lead. "I thought it was going to be short but it went in. … It was just the kind of day I was having."

In the final 10 minutes of the first half, Brandeis extended its lead from 8-5 to 29-19. During this stretch, DeLuca scored 15 of the Judges' 21 points, finishing the half with 17 points.

"I knew I was going to come into the game more aggressive; that was my mindset," DeLuca said. "It felt like anytime I touched the ball I was going to be a threat.

DeLuca, a d3hoops preseason first-team All-American selection, received a medical redshirt last year to remain eligible for this season as a graduate student. He missed all but 27 minutes of last season with lower back and hamstring injuries.

This season, he leads the team in scoring with 16.3 points per game and is second on the team with 6.8 rebounds per contest.

"I felt really good [Sunday], and I'm going to try to continue to play just like I did against [Carnegie Mellon] for the rest of the season," DeLuca said.

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