BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Cairn University men's basketball team won, 74-62, on the road at non-conference foe Pratt Institute on Monday evening, marking their fourth-straight victory and avenging last season's defeat at the hands of the Cannoneers.
 
"This was a good test for us on the road after a three-game home stretch." remarked Head Coach Jason O'Connell. "It wasn't pretty but I'm happy with how we played in the final stretch of the game. Forker and Mizz did a great job guarding their best player (Patrick O'Gorman), holding him to a 4-for-14 mark from the field."
 
Cairn (4-2) controlled the pace for most of the first half, jetting out to a 19-12 lead after the first 10 minutes of the contest, capped off by a three by junior Josh Forker (Telford, PA / Faith Christian). The Highlanders held a nine-point lead over Pratt (1-7) at its largest point in the first half, and took a 36-28 advantage into intermission.
 
The Highlanders continued its momentum into the second half, increasing the advantage to 15 (52-37) after a triple by junior Matt Lucas (Quakertown, PA / Quakertown HS) with 14 minutes remaining. From that point, Pratt made its push, igniting a 14-point run over the next six minutes to cut the Highlander lead to just one (52-51) with eight minutes left. Cairn answered with its own rally, this one being a 14-2 spurt over the next six minutes to put away the Cannoneers.
 
Cairn shot 45.2% (28-62) from the field compared to a 37.7% (26-69) performance for Pratt. The Highlanders connected on 36.4% (8-22) of its three-point opportunities and held Pratt to a paltry 17.4% (4-23) mark from long range. Cairn also topped the Cannoneers in the rebounding department (44-36).
 
Cairn was led offensively by fifth-year Mizz Nyagwegwe (Norristown, PA / Eastern Mennonite University) who poured in a game-high 18 points highlighted by four three-pointers. Nyagwegwe was followed by junior Derian Bradford (Lansdale, PA / University of Valley Forge) with 16 points and four assists, while Lucas and classmate Owen Bradford (Lansdale, PA / University of Valley Forge) each chipped in nine points. Fifth-year Jesse Rivera (Doylestown, PA / Central Bucks East) dished out a game-high seven assists, while classmate Kameron Clark (Ewing, NJ / Ewing) grabbed a game-high 10 boards.
 
The Highlanders will be back on the floor on Wednesday, November 30 when they make the short trip to Jersey to take on NCAA Division I, IVY League opponent Princeton University at 7 p.m. The contest will be broadcasted live on ESPN+, and through their radio app, the Varsity Network. Ticket information for Wednesday's tilt can be found on the men's basketball schedule page.