LANGHORNE, PA- In last night's final bout, the Highlanders and Centenary Cyclones clashed for forty minutes, trading blows until the Cyclones snatched victory at the final second with a game-winning three pointer.
 
Mired in a tough stretch of the 2017-18 schedule, the Highlanders sought to break out against the Cyclones, who they defeated earlier this season 78-63. Cairn started out slowly, as the Cyclones and freshman guard Chris Labelle whooshed the ball around the perimeter, knocking down five three pointers in the first eight minutes to take a 25-15 lead. Sparkplug guard Donovan McCrae almost single-handedly willed the Highlanders back to life, as the freshman scored 8 straight and 10 of 12 points to resuscitate Cairn's floundering offense.
 
Having outlasted the Cyclones' hot-shooting first half, Cairn came roaring back in the second on the back of Jordan Koczman, Malachi Hall, and Seth Brunner. Brunner found his mark from long-range, knocking down a three to start the half, and Hall began to exert his influence- continually probing the Cyclone defense and finishing difficult scoop shots around the rim. A Koczman free throw and another Brunner three gave the Highlanders their first lead of the second half with 9:43 remaining. The outlook looked bleak as Cairn trailed 74-66 with 2 minutes to go, but Malachi Hall would not relent, scoring or assisting on 6 straight to bring the Highlanders all the way back. When Hall found a streaking Koczman, who finished a three point play the hard way, the Highlanders led 78-76 with 11 seconds to go. The Cyclones came zipping down the floor as Labelle drove down the center, dishing to an open shooter in the corner- the Highlanders scrambled to recover to two open shooters, but Michael Young canned an open three as Centenary claimed victory in the game's dying seconds.
 
The Highlanders will seek to bounce back as they host Brooklyn College in the CSAC-CUNY Challenge this weekend at 3:00 PM.