LANGHORNE, PA- In a tense, near must-win contest, the Highlanders were unable to outlast Marywood University falling 62-73 in tonight's CSAC matchup.
 
Perhaps feeling the pressure of the constantly tightening playoff race, the Highlanders and Pacers both started out slowly and conservatively, feeling out the other's defensive schemes without opening themselves up to crucial run-producing turnovers. Marywood threw the first punch, leading 13-8, but a three from Malachi Hall and a Justin Dean layup quickly brought the Highlanders back into the thick of things. Hall crossed up his man and finished another acrobatic layup on the next possession to bring the Highlanders within a point, and that's where the score would stay as both teams remained deadlocked over the next four minutes. Hall and Dean led the way for the Highlanders on both ends of the floor, with Hall scoring 11 points and grabbing four rebounds, while Dean used his prodigious leaping ability to snag 11 rebounds to go with 6 points of his own.
 
While basketball is a team sport, each team's star took over in the second half as Malachi Hall and Tip Swartz each attempted to will their team to the victory. Hall, who has dominated for the Highlanders all season, took his game to another level tonight scoring Cairn's first 12 points of the second half with a slew of leaning jumpers and crafty, scoop layups. Seth Brunner found Josh Decker for a transition three to bring Cairn within one point 48-49, but despite Hall's best efforts Marywood's inside-out attack of Swartz and forward Jeremy Ringland proved too much, as the duo shot 10-13 in the second half to lead Marywood to a 73-62 victory. Hall played his usual efficient basketball, notching 31 points on 12-18 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds, while Dean finished with a double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds) to buoy the Highlanders when Antoine Nunnally went down with a first half ankle injury.
 
The Highlanders have proven that they can truly play with anyone, but will need their best when they travel to Radnor to face off against the CSAC leading Cabrini Cavaliers Wednesday night.