NORTH CANTON, Ohio - The Walsh Cavaliers men's basketball team played host to the Carnegie Mellon Tartans for the home opener on Wednesday (Nov. 17) night at Alumni Arena. The Tartans defeated the Cavaliers, 85-79 as Walsh falls to 1-2 for the 2021-22 season. 

• Score: Carnegie Mellon 85, Walsh 79
• Location: North Canton, Ohio (Alumni Arena)
• Records: Carnegie Mellon 2-2, Walsh 1-2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Carnegie Mellon opened the game with a quick basket, Walsh took a 10-2 lead with a 10-0 run over a 2:30 span. The run was extended to 16-3 as the Cavaliers gained a 16-5 lead on a Darryl Straughter three pointer with 15:53 left in the first half. A 7-0 Tartans run pulled them within four but a Garrison Keeslar layup and Owen Hazelbaker three pushed the lead back to nine (21-12) three minutes later. Eight straight Tartan points were answered by 12 straight Cavalier points, including seven from Straughter. Walsh led 33-20 with 3:42 remaining. The Cavaliers held a 38-35 lead at halftime as Carnegie Mellon closed the gap to three with a 15-5 run over the final three plus minutes. 
• The teams exchanged baskets after the intermission as the Cavaliers held the lead for the first ten minutes of the half. Walsh led by as many as seven before the contest was knotted at 53 with 9:41 left. The Tartans continued to create distance as they gained a 81-70 lead with 1:06 left. Walsh went on a 9-1 run in 38 seconds as they trailed by three points. Caleb Canter converted a three-point play while Keeslar and Straughter nailed three pointers. Carnegie Mellon outlasted the Cavaliers with a 85-79 win. 

FOR THE CAVALIERS

• Darryl Straughter led the Cavaliers with 26 points on nine field goals, including six three pointers. He tied his career-high with eight rebounds. 
• Caleb Canter added 16 points, three rebounds and four steals. 
• Milan Square had four three pointers for a 14 point night. 
• Garrison Keeslar flirted with a triple-double as he totaled nine points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. His rebounds and assist totals were career-bests. 

FOR THE TARTANS

• Nick Nakasian had a game-high 29 points with seven three pointers. 
• Sean Oberman and Josh Berry added double-figure totals with 17 and 12 points, respectively. 
• R.J. Holmes led the Tartans with 12 rebounds. 

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• Walsh finished the game with a 39.2% (29-74) shooting percentage while shooting 45.2% from deep. The Cavaliers made 14 threes, a season-high. 
• Carnegie Mellon shot 51.8% (29-56) from the floor in the game and 48% (15-31) from beyond the arc. 
• Walsh totaled 35 rebounds, 20 assists and 13 steals (leading to 27 points). The Tartans finished with 42 rebounds, 17 assists and four blocks.

Walsh will remain at home to face Carlow next Wednesday (Nov. 24) in a pre-Thanksgiving contest at Alumni Arena, beginning at 5:00 PM. 

-WC-