HACKETTSTOWN, NJ- One year and six days ago Cairn University Men's Basketball sat defeated. In front of a catatonic Mason Activity Center, the Highlanders nursed their injuries and wondered what might have been. Instead of enjoying what was at that time the second-winningest season in the history of Cairn University, the Highlanders and their six seniors put their heads down and went to work.
 
A season marked by such a singular focus could only happily end in one way, and the Highlanders experienced the ultimate euphoria last night, winning the title on the road in front of a capacity crowd at Centenary University. The years of recruiting for Coach Jason O'Connell, the thousands of reps in the gym for the Highlanders six seniors, the countless weightlifting and summer sessions from sophomores Kameron Clark and Jesse Rivera all culminated in one unbelievable game and joyous celebration on the gym floor at Centenary University as the Highlanders hoisted the CSAC Championship banner for the first time.
 
The night started inauspiciously as the Cyclones flew to a 14-3 lead and the Highlanders power forward Justin Dean went down with an early injury. Sensing the moment, senior guard Malachi Hall rose to the occasion, scoring just enough to keep Centenary at bay, while also dishing to Clark and Rivera for easy buckets to chip away at Centenary's lead. The Highlanders endured the first run and brought the game within six, but Centenary quickly threw another punch with a flurry of three pointers to stretch the lead right back to fourteen. Fortunately for the Highlanders, senior Julian Collazo found his footing as Centenary sought to put the game out of reach. Collazo, who went down with a broken ankle in the CSAC Championship a year ago, simply would not be denied in tonight's contest. The senior put his head down and charged to the rim time and again, either getting fouled or finishing acrobatic layups to breathe life into the Highlanders offense. A hectic first half ended with the Cyclones holding the momentum and a seven point lead 56-49.
 
Knowing they had a size disadvantage but a talent advantage, the Highlanders stuck to their game plan, keeping up the pace and racing up and down the floor to stretch the Cyclone defense out. Cairn took the lead for the first time on a Collazo jumper with 15:36 remaining, with a raucous Cairn faithful urging them on, the Highlanders played excellent basketball over the final third of the contest. The storybook ending played out in front of each Highlander fan, as the Highlanders three thousand point scorers (Hall, Collazo, Jeremiah Harris) and Second Team All-CSAC performer Brennan Addley took turns making crucial buckets and keeping the Highlanders ahead. Staked to a seven point lead with time quickly winding down, Cairn remained unflappable. The Highlanders went a perfect 16-16 from the free throw line in the last 1:30 to ice the game and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in Cairn history.
 
In a perfectly fitting stat line for the Highlanders season, Jeremiah Harris led with 25 points, Malachi Hall contributed in numerous ways with 24 points and 9 rebounds, Kameron Clark notched another huge double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the heart and soul of the Highlanders Julian Collazo finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and the CSAC Championship MVP trophy.
The Highlanders will savor their first CSAC title but also eagerly await their assignment in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Stay tuned Monday afternoon for further information as the Highlanders season marches onward!