Box Score

Langhorne, PA - Immaculata University handed the Highlanders a 69-61 defeat on Wednesday night as both teams prepare for the post-season.

The first half was an even twenty minutes as the two Colonial States Athletic Conference teams played out their final regular season contest. Cairn held a slim lead over the first five minutes, thanks to an opening game three-pointer from Charles Hopkins. Immaculata gained their first lead of the game 5:19 into the game at 10-9. For the next couple of minutes, the two teams stayed within a basket of each other.

That is until a 7-0 run from the Mighty Macs from11:20 to 9:18 opened up a 9-point, 26-17 lead for the visitors. Cairn would pull things back to within 6 points on a couple of occassions but a pair of Immaculata free-throws with 30 seconds left in the half game the Mighty Macs their largest lead of the game (10) going into halftime at 39-29.

The Highlanders have had some trouble this season with teams getting away from them right out of the gates in the second half. To their credit, Cairn never let Immaculata gain anything bigger than a 12 point lead, although the margin remained double-figures for the first 8 minutes of the half.

Over the next minute and 35 seconds, Cairn went on a 7-0 run to get within 3 points, 50-47. Suddenly, the crowd of came alive and a fight to the finish was on the cards.

Immaculata was able to give itself some breathing room down the stretch, keeping Cairn at a 2 or 3 basket game. In the end, the Mighty Macs held off the Highlanders momentum and sealed the 69-61 win.

Immaculata now prepares to head into the CSAC playoffs with a 12-13, 11-7 record.

Cairn now starts preparations for their Tuesday night showdown with Valley Forge Christian College in the NCCAA East Region playoffs.

The defeat knocks Cairn to 1-24, 0-18 and keeps the Highlanders winless in conference play for the second time in three seasons. Last season, the Highlanders went 2-16 in CSAC.

Charles Hopkins tied for the game-high of 15 points. Reuben Lacy showed some range, knocking down 2 of 3 3-pt FGs for 13 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Freshman guard Kyle Bonner continues to impress in the back half of the season, going a perfect 7 of 7 from the free-throw line on his was to 12 points. He also recorded 4 assists on the night.

For Immaculata, Nelson Torres had 15 points, followed by Jerod Cain (12), TJ Klinger (10), and Kendall Peters (10).