CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – The Cairn University men's basketball team saw their four-game win streak come to an end following a 60-51 defeat at the hands of defending Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Champion Wilson College at Gannett Field House on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Wilson (13-8, 7-3 CSAC) garnered the early edge, taking a 16-10 lead over Cairn (13-8, 8-2 CSAC) at the midway point of the first half. The Phoenix led by five (23-18) with five minutes left in the first frame, but the Highlanders closed the opening stanza on an 11-5 run to take a one point lead into intermission (29-28).
 
Wilson struck first in the second half, utilizing a 19-8 sprint over the first nine minutes to take a firm 10-point lead (47-37) with 11:11 on the clock. Cairn trimmed away at the deficit, getting it to four on four separate occasions, and trailed 55-51 with 54 seconds to play. However, a step back triple by Rick Godwin Jr. in the last minute of regulation was the dagger Wilson needed to put away the contest.
 
Both teams struggled from the field, as Cairn narrowly out shot Wilson 39.6% (21-53) to 38.3% (23-60) in the contest. Wilson held the rebounding edge (39-32) and skidded past Cairn in paint points, 32-30. Cairn did not have a player in double figures in the contest.
 
Cairn was led by fifth-year Jesse Rivera (Doylestown, PA / Central Bucks East) and juniors Matt Lucas (Quakertown, PA / Quakertown HS) and Owen Bradford (Lansdale, PA / University of Valley Forge), who each chipped in nine points to pace the Highlanders. Junior Derian Bradford (Lansdale, PA / University of Valley Forge) added eight points, while Rivera dished out a game-high six assists.
 
The Highlanders will be back on the hardwood on Wednesday, February 4, when they return home to take on conference foe Keystone College, looking to avenge an earlier season loss against the Giants at 8 p.m.