It was a career day for forward Terrell Hollins '10 Sunday, who filled out the stat sheet and became the 27th player in Brandeis history to score 1,000 points, leading the men's basketball team to a 72-59 home victory over Carnegie Mellon University after defeating Case Western Reserve University on Friday. The Judges are now 14-3 (5-2 in University Athletic Association play).Against Carnegie Mellon, the Tartans kept the score close for much of the game, but the duo of Hollins and guard Kenny Small '10 almost singlehandedly kept the Judges ahead the whole way. Hollins' record bucket went for just two of his 19 points, and he recorded a career-high 16 rebounds, while adding a career-high three blocks along with a season-high six assists. He also had three steals, including a crosscourt interception that led to a resounding dunk at the other end. His rebounds, assists, blocks and steals were also game highs.

Coach Brian Meehan believes Hollins has improved as the season has progressed.

"He's really taken the leadership role on the court as a senior," Meehan said. "He's really stepped up and given everything that we asked for, and the results are showing," he added.

After the game, Hollins was humble about his accomplishment: "It's a good feeling, but that's really not at all my focus. I want bigger and better things for the team this year. I think that we definitely have the potential to be one of the best teams in Brandeis history, and as the senior captain I'm just trying to lead us as far as we can go."

Hollins also credited the fans for much of the team's success. "They get us really amped. It's great coming home to such a great atmosphere, and it really helps us raise our game," he said.

Small played all 40 minutes and dropped 26 points to lead Brandeis. He shot 67 percent from the field, including 6 for 7 from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds and three assists, and was perfect from the free-throw line.

"[Small] really stepped up today," Meehan said. "He has been struggling a bit lately, but he's definitely more than capable of putting up performances like this, and hopefully this will break him out of his funk."

Two other Brandeis players also cracked double figures. Guard Andre Roberson '10 finished with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, while guard Tyrone Hughes '12 finished with 10 points and two of the Judges' six steals.

The Judges prevailed despite playing without starting center Rich Magee '10, who got hurt in Friday's game, and with zero points from their second leading scorer and forward Vytas Kriskus '12.

Forward Christian Yemga '11 was forced into the starting lineup as Meehan opted to go with a smaller lineup. Magee's absence was apparent, as Carnegie Mellon outrebounded Brandeis 35-33. Yemga scored only 4 points and grabbed just two rebounds, but his defensive play included several blocks against taller Tartan counterparts, who helped anchor a defense sorely missing its inside presence.

Yemga started 18 games last year, so he is not new to the role.

"He can definitely be a starter," Hollins said. He's a good player, a good passer and one of the best defenders on the team."

Meehan echoed Hollins' thoughts on Yemga.

"[Magee] is one of our best post players and a great inside defender, but Yemga is a great player and as long as he can stay out of foul trouble he is definitely capable of filling in with some big minutes," he said.

On Friday evening, the Judges rode their hot 3-point shooting to a 70-52 victory over Case. The Judges hit a season-high 13 shots from 3-point range while hitting 46.4 percent of their 3-point shots, a season best.

The pace was led by Kriskus, who finished with 20 points, including six 3-pointers.

"[Kriskus] is a gym rat," Hollins said. "He's just practicing around the clock, and it's starting to really pay off because he can shoot the lights out."

Hollins had 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Hughes finished with 13 points, four assists, and two steals. Small added 9 points,

The game was highlighted by a Brandeis streak from 3-point range midway through the first half, when the Judges connected on six consecutive possessions. Kriskus knocked down the first two, then buried a third after Hollins grabbed an offensive rebound and found him on the right elbow. Guard John Weldon '10 knocked down the next two, while Hughes hit from the left corner to cap an 18-4 run, and the Judges never relinquished the lead.

The men will face the same two teams on the road this week as they travel to Case on Friday before facing the Tartans Sunday.