Pittsburgh, PA - Men's Basketball had their home opener last night, and made sure it wasn't one to forget. The Redhawks pushed the game to overtime.
Starting for La Roche was Kaydn Hannah (forward), Devon Darrell (guard), Isaiah Thomas (guard), Desmond Ross (guard), and Joe Pipilo (guard).
Starting for Carnegie Mellon was R.J. Holmes (forward), Kevin Sax (forward), Josh Berry (guard), Sean Oberman (guard), and Nick Nakasian (guard).
First Half
R.J Holmes and Kaydn Hannah were the first to add points to the board for both teams; both with layups.
Devon Darrell quickly joined with a three pointer for the Redhawks after a steal by Hannah. Joe Pipilo joined the fun shortly after with a three point shot of his own, making the score very early on 11-2 in favor of LRU.
CMU didn't let it stay that way for long, and Kevin Sax added a made three point shot for the Tartans. Sax also adds a made free throw.
Darrell for LRU quickly hit a three point basket quickly after the made foul shot, to which Holmes for CMU answered with his own three point basket in the very next play down the court.
The score was now 14-9, in favor of La Roche with 16:18 remaining in the first period.
Sean Oberman for the Tartans put up a three point shot (assisted by Josh Berry), which was good, decreasing the Redhawks lead to only two points (14-12).
LRU doesn't let that lead get any wider and Dominic Elliot off the bench adds a three pointer of his own, assisted by Darrell.
A steal from La Roche's Joe Starzynski, a pass to Darrell and a made three point bucket increased the lead to eight points (20-12), leaving CMU scoreless for approximately three minutes.
After three minutes without a bucket, Holmes gets off a good three point shot ending CMU's scoring drought.
Elliot for LRU hits his second shot of the night, at three pointer, assisted by Darrell maintaining the lead the Redhawks had built during the three minutes the Tartans went without a made bucket (23-15, LRU).
After each team traded turnovers and steals Jack Stone (CMU) and Joe Pipilo (LRU) traded back to back made three point shots. This causes Hermie Carmichael to call his first timeout of the game with 11:27 remaining in the first period.
Out of the timeout Darreel hits two three pointers in back-to-back possessions for the Redhawks, pushing the score to 32-18 still in favor of La Roche
Kaydn Hannah collects his second foul of the game, giving Berry two free throws, but Berry only hits one shot.
Hannah quickly makes up for it with a made lay up of his own assisted by Starzysnki. Hannah was fouled on the way up, but missed the free throw to make it a three point play.
Desmond Ross helps him out with a made two point jump shot for LRU (36-21, LRU).
Ross also comes down the floor in the next play and joins the made three point shot club and his one of his own, increasing the score lead to 14 points for LRU (6:19).
Kevin Sax is the next to contribute to the scorer's book and made a dunk, which Jordan Grayson (LRU) answered with a made three point shot of his own (assisted by Michael Brooks).
The score at 3:40 remaining in the first half was 42-27, in favor of La Roche University.
Oberman (CMU) and Nakasian (CMU) both added three points to their score with both of them hitting free throws.
Hannah for the Redhawks and Holmes for the Tartans also both have made layups.
This put the final score, going into the second half 44-34 in favor of LRU.
Second Half
The second half starts off with a foul from LRU's Desmond Ross. Giving Sax two free throws. He goes 1-1 on these, but gets his own rebound on the second shot passing it out to Berry who misses a three point chance. Nakasian then tries to go up with a tip-in layup but he's unsuccessful and Isiah Thomas for La Roche comes down with the rebound.
On the other side of the court Joe Pipilo misses a three point shot which is rebounded by Berry, but then is turned over, making it Rehawks' ball.
Thomas, assisted by Ross added a made three point shot to the board to which Holmes answered with a lay up of his own, assisted by Oberman.
Lady luck stayed on Carnegie Mellon's side and a turnover by Devon Darrell for the Rehawks allowed Holmes to steal the ball and hit another lay up.
Darrell quickly made up for the plunder with a layup of his own.
Much of the second half went this way, with the Redhawks maintaining their 10 point lead over the Tartans until there was only about six minute left in the contest. Starting at this six minute mark the game under the basket changed drastically, and CMU went on a six point run.
This puts the score at 79-75, still in favor of LRU, but with only two made baskets of breathing room.
After two free throws made for Dominic Elliot after a foul from Holmes, La Roche calls a 30 second timeout with the score at 81-75 (LRU's favor) with 3:02 remaining on the clock in the second half.
Unfortunately for the Redhawks the timeout did not have the effect they would have liked and Jack Stone (CMU) came out of the timeout and made a three point field goal assisted by Nakasian.
Carnegie Mellon didn't stop there, now fired up from catching up in the last three minutes of the contest.
Stone himself also didn't stop at just a made three pointer. He then went on in the next possession to steal the ball from Isaiah Thomas and made a fast break layup. The score was now 81-80 with La Roche up by one point.
In their next possession down the court CMU's Nakasian made a layup, assisted by Homes, puting the Tartans now up by one, 82-81.
By now, both teams were now in one and one territory. Meaning that each team has seven or more fouls that every time there is a foul, on anyone, anywhere on the court, free throws will be shot. If the player shooting makes the first one, they have the opportunity to take the second shot. If they miss, game play resumes as normal, with both teams trying to rebound the shot.
Carnegie Mellon takes a 30 second timeout with 46 seconds left in regulation. After the time out Joe Pipilo goes to the line to shoot for two and sinks them both, updating the score 85-82 in favor of LRU.
But, no game with La Roche could ever be boring. After a from Hannah, Berry goes to the line to shoot two and takes a timeout after Berry hits both free throws (85-84, LRU).
Isaiah Thomas for LRU is fouled by Sean Oberman and he goes to the line to shoot two (00:12).
Thomas makes the first free throw, but misses the second. Stone gets the rebound and passes it up to Homes to hit a two point jump shot to tie the gam-e 86-86 at the end of regulation.
Overtime Period
Overtime in men's basketball are five minute periods that are played all the way through the whole five minutes. There are five overtime periods allowed and if at the end of the fifth overtime the teams are still tied it becomes a sudden death situation.
To start the five minute overtime period Kevin Sax scores a lay up to put the Tartans up by two.
Down at the other end of the court Oberman (CMU) fouls Ross (LRU) who was shooting a three point shot, and he goes to the line for three free throws. Ross makes two out of the three, tying the game at 88-88.
Holmes quickly takes the lead back for the Tartans with a layup assisted by Berry.
Thomas fouls Sax who goes to the line for two as each team is now in bonus territory. Meaning that when each team has 10 or more fouls, whoever draws the foul automatically goes to the line for two foul shots no matter what.
Sax misses both free throws, but Nakasian gets the offensive rebound and goes back up. Nakasian also has no luck with a made basket, but Sax is there to rebound and goes up successfully this time with a lay up making the score 96-90 in favor of the Tartans.
Carnegie Mellon takes a full time out at 2:50 remaining in overtime. Unfortunately for CMU, La Roche's Devon Darrell comes on to the court and sinks a three point shot, putting the Redhawks only down by three points.
Ross (LRU) steals the ball from Nakasian, who passes it to Brooks, who passes it to Jordan Grayson for a three point shot that is made. Tying the game at 96-96 with 1:44 remaining.
Holmes, determined, puts up another lay up for the Tartans, taking the lead back by two. A turnover from Darrell gives Oberman (CMU) the chance for a three point field goal that he hits, making the score 101-96 in favor of Carnegie Mellon. The Tartans call a timeout at :34 remaining in regulation.
Joe Pipilo for the Redhawks out of the timeout hits a three pointer of his own, assisted by Ross, making the score 101-99, LRU only down by two.
After a foul, CMU's Nakasian goes to the free throw line and makes the first shot (102-99). La Roche calls a timeout (:10).
Holmes fouls Pipilo out of the time out and Pipilo goes to the line to shoot three. He hits all three bringing the score to 102-102, six seconds remaining.
With one second left on the clock Darrell fouls Josh Berry. Berry misses the first rebound, but makes the second. The final score in overtime was Carnegie Mellon 103 and La Roche with 102.
Final Thoughts
The leading scorer for CMU was R.J. Holmes with 43 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. He was followed by Nick Nakasian and Kevin Sax who both contributed 17 points. Sax had 10 rebounds and Nakasian had six. Jack Stone and Sean Oberman also both had 10 points.
For La Roche the top scorer was Joe Pipilo with 28 points and five rebounds. He was followed by Devon Darrell who had 26 points and five assists. Isaiah Thomas led the team in rebounds with six and contributed 14 points himself.
The Redhawks' next game is on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 1 PM at the Kerr Fitness Center on La Roche University Campus.