Spring Break
MBBALL: Brandeis picks up first conference win in upset
by Jeffrey Pickette
Senior writer
Sports | 1/13/09
Posted online at 11:39 PM EST on 1/12/09
/ Last updated at 12:47 AM EST on 1/12/09
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But against No. 14 Carnegie Mellon University last Sunday, the Judges reversed that trend. Brandeis held a 19-to-11 edge in converted free throws and held the Tartans to just 37.9 percent shooting from the field en route to a 69-57 victory last Sunday at home.
"Defensively it seemed like we were all collectively working together, kind of limiting their shooters and [making] their other guys beat us," forward Terrell Hollins '10 said of the team's victory over Carnegie Mellon.
With the loss to Rochester and the subsequent win over CMU, Brandeis stands at 7-5 on the season, including 1-1 in UAA play. Over winter break, the Judges upended Curry College 84-50 behind 24 points from guard Kevin Olson '09.
Carnegie Mellon had been one of the UAA's surprise teams during the non-conference season. The Tartans were picked to finish fourth in the UAA coaches' preseason poll, but raced through the non-conference season with just one loss in 11 games.
The Judges, who began the season ranked No. 9 in the country, held an 8-5 lead with 10 minutes and 26 seconds left in the first half of last Sunday's game after a layup from forward Rich Magee '10. From that point, forward Steve DeLuca (GRAD) took over the game, scoring 15 of the team's final 21 points to close out the half, giving Brandeis a 29-19 halftime lead.
"[DeLuca] was on fire today. He could hit any shot he wanted," assistant coach Eric McKoy said. "He took what the defense gave him and he didn't try to force anything."
In the second half, Olson found his jump shot and hit three three-pointers down the stretch to help the Judges increase their lead to as many as 16 points.
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