After eight lead changes in the second half Kozak would make the last in the favorite of the home team as he drove between defenders and found the bottom of the net to give the Tartans the 64-63 lead with 12 ticks on the clock. During his drive he was fouled, but missed the and one attempt giving the Crusaders one last chance. The Crusaders junior guard Pat Stolly’s buzzer beating shot attempt fell short giving the Tartans the victory.
Capital started the game with a five point advantage before the Tartans went on a 16-5 half way to through the first stanza to take a 33-29 lead into the locker room. The Crusaders started the second half on a 7-0 run, but the stingy Tartan guards, sophomore Ryan Einwag, Kozak and sophomore Corey O’Rourke, would hit three straight from behind the arc to pull Carnegie Mellon back on top 42-36 with just four minutes off the clock in the half.
Capital would get back on track going on an 8-2 run taking the lead (51-50) with 7:18 left in regulation. The Crusaders lead would last just one minute, as leading score, Einwag, would give the lead back to the Tartans on a lay-up.
Capital’s Stolly would give the lead back to the Crusaders with 3:04 to play and they would hold the lead until the last minute of the game. Einwag would hit a trey putting the Tartans back in front 62-61 with 1:15 left. After a pair of made foul shots by the Crusaders, Kozak’s bucket with little time left on the clock would be enough.
Einwag finished the game with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Kozak was they only other Tartan in double figures finishing with 11. Both had a team-high four assists. For Capital junior Steve Kyser cashed in with 21 points and sophomore Nate Stahl had 18 in the loss.
The Carnegie Mellon men’s basketball team will travel to Oberlin, Ohio Tuesday, January 2 for a 7:30 p.m. tip against the Yeomen of Oberlin College.