Despite scoring the first six points of the game, and extending their first half lead to as many as 10 points, the Violets led by only five, 31-26, at halftime.
NYU maintained its lead until Nate Maurer’s three-point play gave the Tartans a 41-40 advantage with 14:36 remaining. Three lead changes and seven ties ensued before Clayton Barlow-Wilcox’s two free throws with 1:21 left made the score 60-59 and gave Carnegie Mellon the lead for good.
The Tartans extended their advantage to four, 64-60, before NYU’s Jason Boone completed a three-point play with 19 seconds left to pull the Violets within one.
A.J. Straub hit two free throws for Carnegie Mellon with 16 seconds remaining to re-establish a three-point lead.
Jimmy Janeczek’s three-point attempt to tie the game fell short with six seconds left, and after Boone missed a follow-up layup, the Tartans ran out the clock.
Jeff Gilkerson led NYU (8-2, 0-1) with 25 points, while Boone finished with a "double-double" of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jared Kildare added 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals for NYU.
Barlow-Wilcox led Carnegie Mellon (9-2, 2-0) with a career-high 26 points. He also had 10 rebounds. Michael Divens contributed 11 points and seven rebounds for the Tartans.