Immaculata, PA - The Cairn men's basketball team traveled to Immaculata University Monday evening in hopes that they could repeat the result from earlier in the season and come out with a win. Unfortunately history did not end up repeating itself and the Mighty Macs prevailed with a 74-63 total.
The Highlanders continued to shoot well, like they have done all season, and shot 50% from the field (22-44) with 6-14 from beyond-the-arc.
Darnell Clowney led the team with 18 points and three assists.
Reuben Lacy followed with 15 points.
Immaculata held a clear advantage in the game down low with Mamadou Diakite. The Highlanders are currently without any players that can match up with the 6'5", 230-pound forward. Diakite led the Mighty Macs with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
The Mighty Macs held the lead for the majority of the first half but the Highlanders did not led them get out of sight by any means. The Immaculata lead was cut to two at the 14 and 13 minute marks thanks to the shooting of Lacy and
JD Zamroz. Zamroz finished with eight points in the game on 3-7 from the floor and 2-4 from three.
Cairn saw their deficit increase to seven by the end of the first half, but the Highlanders hit nearly 60% of the field goals they attempted.
Reuben Lacy cut the lead to four with a three-pointer to start the second half but Immaculata quickly countered with the old-fashioned three-point play. The Mighty Macs then held a double-digit lead for the next 13 minutes of the half.
The Highlanders cut into the Mighty Mac lead when, with under five minutes to play,
Kyle Bonner came away with a steal and on his way to the basket was fouled by Tony Calamaro. The foul looked rough as the two players went careening into the padded wall and Calamaro was given a flagrant foul, which gave the ball back to the Highlanders after Bonner's made free throws.
On the ensuing play,
JD Zamroz hit a big three-pointer to complete the five-point swing in Cairn's favor.
Darnell Clowney then decreased the Mighty Mac advantage to six on Cairn's next possession, stirring the Highlanders' hopes once more.
Unfortunately, Cairn just couldn't get close enough for the remainder of the game and Immaculata finished things up with the 11-point margin. Clowney did well to drive through the lane and get to the basket but Immaculata made enough of their free throws when Cairn was forced to foul to try and get the ball back.
With the loss, the Highlanders dropped to 2-22 on the year and 2-15 in the conference. Immaculata improved to 11-13 overall and 9-8 in the CSAC with the win. Cairn will finish out their season on Wednesday, Feb. 18, when they travel to Baptist Bible College for a game at 7 p.m.
