The Observer, February 29, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 19
Spartan losing streak extended to 15 games
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The men's basketball team added two more losses to their slump, which has now reached 15 games, last weekend. The first game, which was closer than the 75-56 score indicates, came courtesy of the No. 14 ranked Rochester Yellowjackets. Sunday's loss, another heartbreaking last-minute loss, was to Carnegie Mellon University.
Friday night, the Spartans put themselves in a good position to play spoiler, but were plagued by poor shooting and turnovers in the second half. In the first half, the Spartans went blow for blow with Rochester, causing eight lead changes. Led by guards Steve Young, Kevin Herring, and Brandon Bradford, who scored a combined 25 of the team's 32 first-half points, the team was shooting just over 40 percent from the field. However, nine turnovers kept Rochester in the game. In addition, Case's big men, Conrad Mason and Anthony Durr, could only muster two points in the half, leaving the score 33-32 in Rochester's favor at halftime.
The second half took a turn for the worse as the Spartan's shooters cooled off, only hitting 28 percent of their shots. The Yellowjackets seized the opportunity early in the half, going on a 10-0 run, and never looked back. Case only came within nine points of Rochester after that run, as the Yellowjackets hit over 50 percent of their shots to finish the game. Young did end up recording a double-double, his first of the season, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Sunday's game played out differently. After a sluggish start, the Spartans started to play well with just over seven minutes left. With an Anthony Durr lay-up to begin the scoring, then consecutive Collin Mullholland three-pointers, Case was able to cut Carnegie Mellon's lead to five at the end of the half.
The second half began with both teams exchanging baskets. Carnegie Mellon was just hitting more than Case. With 11 minutes left to play, the Tartans had built a 15-point lead, but the Spartans came battling back behind a 16-point second-half performance by Kevin Herring. Slowly but surely, the team cut the Tartan's lead to only three points with a minute and a half left to play. Yet, a crucial lay up by Carnegie Mellon's Greg Gonzalez-who played well in the first meeting between the two teams and did so again, scoring 12 points and grabbing 21 rebounds- just 17 seconds later, sealed the game for the Tartans.
Tomorrow the Spartans will play their last game of the season against Emory University in Horsburgh Gym with the tip-off scheduled for noon. Seniors Mason and Bradford will play their last game in a Spartan uniform. Both players have been on the team since they were freshmen.
