Box Score Phoenixville, PA - Cairn men's basketball took on the Patriots of the University of Valley Forge Tuesday night where they went to their second overtime game of the season. Unfortunately tonight mark's the Highlanders' second overtime loss this year with a 77-72 score.
At one point in the second half, Cairn held a 46-32 lead that slowly dwindled throughout the rest of regulation play. Valley Forge never went ahead through the second half, and Cairn had a three-point lead with 19 seconds on the clock.
With nine seconds left to play, Kevin Mack hit his biggest shot of the game - a three-pointer from long range to tie the game and send it into overtime.
JD Zamroz had the final shot with less than nine seconds to go but his jumper bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
Mack started off the overtime with a layup to give Valley Forge their first lead since the first half and the Patriots didn't look back from there.
Darnell Clowney and
Omar Askia did their best to drive to the rim but it wasn't enough as the Patriots went on to win 77-72.
Reuben Lacy led the team with a 20-point and 17-rebound performance. Despite Lacy's numbers, he couldn't be found for a shot in the overtime period. Clowney finished with a season-high 18 points, while Askia ended with 14.
The Highlanders once again shot high-percentages from the floor - 48% field goals and 43% three-point field goals - but the free-throws just wouldn't go in for Cairn. The Highlanders were just 10-25 from the charity stripe.
Cairn did well to disrupt the Patriots' offense; Valley Forge took 27 shots from three-point range but made just five. Ultimately that wouldn't be enough to stop the Patriots, who took advantage of 22 turnovers by the Highlanders.
Seil Park played well with his 21 minutes, going 3-3 and grabbing five rebounds.
JD Zamroz was 2-11 in the game for seven points and six rebounds.
With the non-conference loss, Cairn dropped to 2-19 overall, while Valley Forge improved to 12-8 on the year. The Highlanders will next host Rosemont College tomorrow, Feb. 11, as part of a double-header with the women to start at 8 p.m.
