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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Jack Zapolnik vs. Carnegie Mellon
Jose Figueroa
Jack Zapolnik
73
Winner Carnegie Mellon CMU 3-0,0-0 UAA
67
John Carroll JCU 2-1,0-0 NCAC
Winner
Carnegie Mellon CMU
3-0,0-0 UAA
73
Final
67
John Carroll JCU
2-1,0-0 NCAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Carnegie Mellon CMU 36 37 73
John Carroll JCU 31 36 67

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | JCUSID

Despite Lockdown Defense, Men's Basketball Tamed by Tartans in Home Opener

The Blue Streaks struggled to make shots on Friday night

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – Overall outstanding defense could not mask a poor shooting night for John Carroll Men's Basketball in the home opener of the 2026-27 campaign.

A lid seemed to be on the basket for much of the night for the Blue Streaks at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. But steals kept it close in a two-possession loss to start the Blue Streak Invitational.

John Carroll dropped its first loss of the year in a 73-67 defeat to Carnegie Mellon. 

In a tough shooting effort, JCU finished 34.2% from the floor, including just 5-of-30 from 3-point range. On the plus side, JCU's press defense gave the Tartans fits, as CMU turned the ball over 22 times. The Blue Streaks tallied 15 steals and 24 points off turnovers.  

The visitors grabbed a 12-6 lead at the 14-minute mark, but JCU wiped it out thanks for 7 points in 3 minutes by Jack Zapolnik. The teams traded shots, as the score remained within one possession either way for most of the half. 

A Mike Lamirand triple following a CMU turnover set JCU ahead briefly with 4 minutes left before the visitors answered right back with two 3-pointers. The Tartans stretched the lead to as much as five, but a pretty jumper by Drew Styers with 6 seconds left (after a JCU timeout) slimmed the deficit to 36-31 at the break. 

The Tartans came out of the half firing, extending the advantage to 45-33, leading to a JCU timeout at 16:13. The Blue Streaks came alive with a pair of Styers buckets, a Ryan Ioppolo fastbreak triple, and a Jack Sladky tip-in. But as quickly as it turned into a one-possession game, CMU replied with two baskets to get the deficit back up to eight.  

JCU chipped away before a key Kyle Irwin deep shot and a Lamirand scoop and score tied the ballgame. With 9:45 left to play, it was back to level and a brand new game with the crowd back into it. But despite struggling with some turnovers, the Tartans never allowed the visitors to take control.

An 8-2 run for CMU over the next four minutes drained some energy from the building. While JCU got stood within one possession with 3:49 to play, Carnegie Mellon hit a critical 3-pointers at the 2:38 mark to stretch the lead to 66-59. The Blue Streaks couldn't generate enough traction late to get it back to a one score game, even though CMU missed a couple free throws. 

While JCU finished with more points in the paint, CMU ended the night with a clear advantage on the boards, 40-28. Missed front ends of 1-and-1 chances at the line also hurt, as JCU shot 12-of-20 from the charity stripe. 

Mike Lamirand led the team with 14 points, followed by Jack Zapolnik with 11. Lucas Perusek topped the team with 4 steals. 

Next Up
The Blue Streaks will watch tomorrow's neutral game between Penn State Harrisburg and Carnegie Mellon, set for 3 pm. JCU will then host Penn State Harrisburg on Sunday at 1 pm. 
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