Langhorne, PA - The Cairn men's basketball team fell just short in a battle with the No. 20 nationally ranked Neumann Knights on Saturday afternoon 84-71. The Highlanders trailed by just two at the half, 37-35, before tying the game on multiple occasions in the second-half. The Knights pulled away in the second-half, but the Highlanders hung in the contest with a run late in the game.
 
The Knights lived up to their billing as one of the top teams in the country in the early going, jumping out to an early nine-point lead in the first six minutes and change. After leading 16-7, Neumann held their lead steady in the five to nine point range for the majority of the half. Cairn began to whittle that lead down late in the half. With the Knights leading 30-24 the Highlanders went on a quick 5-0 run thanks to a layup by Gerroid Doughty II and a three from Zachary Dolton to cut the advantage to one.
 
The two sides then traded threes with Billy Cassidy nailing a triple for the Knights and Zachary Jackson responding for Cairn. Darian Barnes then collected a layup with two minutes on the clock before a tip-in from Dolton cut the Neumann lead to two heading into the break.
 
Cairn trailed 37-35 coming out of halftime and wasted no time tying the game up at 37-37 with a jumper from JD Zamroz. The game remained close for the opening few minutes of the half, though the pace of the game had definitely ratcheted up. Doughty made a layup off an assist from Julian Collazo to bring Cairn within three at 46-43 before the Knights went on a 14-4 run to open up at 13-point margin at 60-47 with 11 minutes and change left in regulation.
 
The Neumann lead expanded to as many as 17 points with under seven minutes in the game, but a 12-4 run for the Highlanders showed they had not given up hope. With the lead cut to single-digits, the Knights took care of business with a pair of free throws and a fast break bucket to seal the deal at 84-71.
 
Despite the loss, the Highlanders held Neumann to their second-lowest point total of the season at 84, just one off their season low of 83 (vs. Catholic – Dec. 10). Cairn also shot their second-highest field goal percentage with a .519 mark (28-54).
 
Gerroid Doughty II led the Highlanders in the game with 22 points, one shy of his season high in a game. Julian Collazo collected his second double-double of the season with his 14 point, 11 rebound performance this afternoon.
 
The Highlanders will look to snap their losing skid on Wednesday when the Keystone Giants come to town on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Game time slated for 8:00 p.m.