Men's basketball loses to La Roche in home opener

The men’s basketball team opened the season at home against La Roche College on Friday night, falling 71–64.

Three Tartans turned in 11-point performances as senior guard Ryan Maha, junior forward and guard Seth Henry, and sophomore guard Colin McNeil led the team, which shot 43.9 percent from the floor. The Tartans held the Redhawks to a 36.4 percent effort from the floor but were out-rebounded 53–31. Maha dished out five assists, tying his career high.

First-year guard Zach Watson made his first shot of the game, a three-pointer, to put the Tartans up 9–6 before a three-pointer by the Redhawks tied the game with 12:49 to play in the first half. The Tartans then scored nine straight points over a two-minute span to take an 18–9 lead. First-year forward Daniel Weiss hit a three-pointer at the end of the run.

The Redhawks went on an 11–1 run to take the lead at 20–19 with seven minutes to play in the half. The lead changed hands four times before the half ended with the Redhawks leading 28–26.

Henry hit the opening bucket of the second half to tie the game for the sixth time before McNeil converted a layup to give the Tartans back the lead, 30–28. The teams traded buckets until the Redhawks took the lead for good on a three-pointer with 10:04 to play in the game. That three-pointer broke up the 12th tie of the contest and sparked a 9–2 run that put the visitors ahead 53–46.

The Tartans pulled to within one point after a layup by sophomore forward Trent Suddeth and a layup by McNeil with 2:33 to play but the Redhawks scored on a jumper in the paint and the Redhawks hit 6-of-8 from the line to keep the lead and win by seven.

The Tartans will next face Bethany College on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m.