LANGHORNE, PA – Cairn Men's Basketball played a thrilling double-overtime conference match with Wilson College on Saturday as the Highlanders came out the victors, 99-98.
 
Gameplay began with a nine-point Wilson (9-7 / 6-2 UNITED EAST) lead putting the Highlanders in jeopardy of letting the game get out of reach early. Senior guard Jonathan Desir (Feasterville, PA / Neshaminy) got the offense rolling with a three as classmates Ashton West (Newport Beach, CA / Clarks Summit University) made a mid-range jump shot and Christian Rivera (Cayey, Puerto Rico / Central Bucks East) scored a layup to make it a one-possession lead. Graduate guard Corey Baldwin (Henderson, NC / Averett) found the ball in his hands, scoring a layup as Rivera added another and Baldwin gave Cairn (7-9 / 5-2 UNITED EAST) a quick taste of the lead. With Wilson Challenging, Graduate guard Jaylon Simpson (Atlanta, GA / Belmont Abbey) and Josiah Hardy (Ashburn, VA / Hampden-Sydney) answered with scores, Rivera adding the equalizer with a layup off of Hardy's steal. The Phoenix built their lead to twelve as they took control through the remainder of the half, up 41-29.
 
Rivera, Simpson, and Hardy came out with good jump shots from the break as Baldwin hit from three to chip away at the deficit. Hardy connected on a deep shot as Rivera put together a three-point play and West banked in a layup, now down only two points. Simpson got things all knotted up with a triple with Hardy going 2-4 from the free throw line in two chances, adding a jump shot for the lead with 2:05 to play in regulation. The Highlanders went 75% from the free throw line in the final seconds of the half, playing sharp defense to force overtime as things were tied 74-74 after forty minute of play.
 
Hardy won the tip and got started with a jump shot to open the first overtime. Simpson and fifth year Isaiah Coleman (Fontana, CA / Clarks Summit University) scored layups to counter Wilson and hold the lead. Hardy then added another bucket, extending the lead to three, the largest of overtime as the Phoenix drove to the cup and scored a layup. Simpson made a pair of free throws to keep the lead at three. Wilson made one of two on their next chance from the charity stripe to make the score 84-82 and tie the game at eighty-four apiece with four seconds remaining. Rivera had an open look from three to end the game but came up empty.
 
Cairn got the tip off for the second overtime as well, opening up with a big dunk from Simpson before Wilson answered with a three and layup for the lead, adding a fastbreak layup off a Cairn turnover, extending the lead to five. Baldwin buried a three-pointer followed by one from Coleman, taking the lead back, and yet another for Baldwin for the two-point lead as Wilson countered with a step-through layup. The Phoenix found the basket on their next possession, tying the game at 97-97 as Cairn missed their next chance. Wilson drove through the paint with seven seconds to play, drawing contact and going to the free throw line, missing the first and hitting the back end to grab a narrow single-point lead. Simpson had an open look right before the horn, coming up short but Rivera was fouled battling for the rebound and got to the free throw line with 0.3 on the clock. He made the first to tie and the second to go ahead 99-98 as Wilson couldn't get off a tap at the horn and fell to the Highlanders after another instant classic.
 
Rivera tallied his first career double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds along with seven assists and the game-winning free throw. Hardy tied a game-high 26 points on 10-18 shooting and a pair of blocks on the defensive end. Simpson had 19 points as he made multiple trips to the free throw line, making 8-10 and grabbing seven boards. Baldwin finished with fifteen with three deep shots, two of which were during the second overtime. West also had fifteen in only 25 minutes of action. Saturday's roller coaster featured 22 lead changes and 13 ties before all was said and done.
 
The Highlanders will take on #7 Christopher Newport at home on Monday (3 p.m.) before round two of conference play commences on Wednesday at Valley Forge.