LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cairn University men's basketball team lost, 83-70, against non-conference foe Gwynedd Mercy University at home on Saturday, snapping their three-game win streak.
 
Gwynedd Mercy (7-2) held the early edge over Cairn (7-4) with an 18-9 lead seven minutes into the contest. The Highlanders battled back and grabbed their first lead of the contest after a 12-2 run to take a 21-20 lead at the 9:41 mark of the first half, capped off by a three-ball from junior Noah Mitchell (Leesburg, VA / Taccoa Falls College).

ICYMI: Junior Noah Mitchell put forth a season-high 17 points, including three triples in @CairnMBB's bout with Gwynedd Mercy on Saturday.#GoCairn #CairnMBB #KingdomCulture pic.twitter.com/KTEkdgZpbj

— Cairn Highlanders (@CairnAthletics) December 12, 2021

Gwynedd Mercy, would not be denied, however, closing the first half on a 28-14 run and the defending Atlantic East Conference Runner's Up held a comfortable 13-point lead (48-35) at intermission.
 
In the second half, the Griffins had momentum until the Highlanders got the Gwynedd advantage within single digits (56-49) after junior Richard Rosas (Lancaster, PA / Lancaster Mennonite) knocked down a triple at the 13:55 mark. The Griffins, however, knocked down a three on the very next possession and Cairn did not come within nine points of the lead for the rest of the contest.
 
Cairn shot 47.5% (29-61) compared to 42.4% (28-66) for the Griffins in the contest. The Griffins won the game with their outside shooting, knocking down 42.9% (12-28) of their three-point attempts. Cairn out rebounded the Griffins (40-34) and bested Gwynedd in points in the paint (38-24).
 
Cairn was led by Mitchell, who poured in a team-and season high 17 points on six-of-10 shooting, along with a three-for-five clip from long range. Mitchell was followed by classmate Wes Murray (Reading, PA / Exeter), tying a career-high with 14 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds for his second career double-double. Senior Jesse Rivera (Doylestown, PA / Central Bucks East) finished in double figures with 13 points and dished out a game-high eight assists.
 
Cairn will be back on the court on Monday, December 13 when it welcomes Bryn Athyn College to the Mason Activity Center for a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) contest at 7 p.m.