READING, PA- The Highlanders took an overtime thriller from Penn State Berks 108-98 to improve to .500 on the season and head into the Thanksgiving break on a high note.
 
The Highlanders struggled in the early stages against the Nittany Lions, allowing PSU-Berks to mount a 16-2 run to take a 28-22 run near the end of the first half.  The Highlanders were buoyed in the first half by fiery junior Julian Collazo and sharpshooting seniors Josh Decker and Seth Brunner. Collazo urged the Highlanders forward as the 6'0" guard took ownership of the paint, snagging 6 rebounds in the first half to go along with 9 points and 2 assists. Decker and Brunner found their form after uncharacteristic cold streaks early on this season, cashing in 5 timely threes in the first half to bring the Highlanders back to within two points at the end of the period.
 
After only moderate offensive success from both teams in the first half, the lid was taken off in the second as Cairn and Berks traded buckets and blows, combining to score an incredible 114 points (58-56) and draw even at the end of regulation. Cairn's Collazo and Justin Dean quite literally put the team on their back in OT, outscoring the Nittany Lions 15-5 and giving the Highlanders their second win of the young season.
 
Collazo did a little bit of everything for Cairn, notching his best individual performance over his years in a Highlander jersey with 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists- coming just two points shy of a monster triple-double.  Justin Dean continued his stellar play with 17 points and 12 rebounds, Decker made his mark with 6 long-range bombs at a 60% clip to tally 20 points, and Jeremiah Harris finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
 
The Highlanders will enjoy a bit of a break before hosting Neumann University at 7:00 PM on November 27^th.