LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cairn University men's basketball team lost, 69-61, against non-conference opponent Pratt Institute on Tuesday evening in Cairn's home-opener for the 2021-22 season.
 
Cairn (4-3) and Pratt (2-5) engaged in a tight, defensive-centric battle in the first half, with both teams hitting a cold-spell offensively, leading to both teams being tied at 23-23 with 3:25 left in the first half. The Cannoneers closed the frame on a 7-2 run to end the half and took a 30-23 lead into intermission.
 
In the second half, Pratt extended its lead to double digits and held a comfortable lead after a triple by sophomore Patrick O'Gorman with 9:12 remaining (54-42). Cairn made things interesting after going on a 14-7 run to cut the deficit to just five (61-56) with 2:20 left in the contest, but Pratt made enough of their free throws down the stretch to hold off the Highlander comeback.
 
Pratt out shot Cairn 42.2% (27-64) to 37.1% (23-62) in the contest, while the Highlanders bested the Cannoneers on the glass (44-36). The Highlanders had 16 offensive rebounds in the contest and accumulated 18 second-chance points.
 
Cairn was led by senior Kameron Clark (Ewing, NJ / Ewing) who posted a game-high 17 rebounds to go along with a team-high 14 points. Clark also registered a career-high four blocks in the contest. Junior Dashaun Cain (Wilmington, DE / Red Lion Christian Academy) followed with 12 points and seven rebounds, while senior Jesse Rivera (Doylestown, PA / Central Bucks East) chipped in 11 points and dished out a game-high five assists. Sophomore Matt Lucas (Quakertown, PA / Quakertown HS) added nine points on a team-high three triples.
 
Cairn will be back on the court on Sunday, November 28 when they are back at home to take on The City College of New York in a non-conference bout inside the Mason Activity Center at 5 p.m.