CHAMBERSBURG, PA – The Highlanders fought to an overtime conference win at Wilson on Saturday, outmatching the Phoenix 93-89.
 
Both squads traded shots at the lead to begin the matchup in the first seven minutes until graduate guards Ron Ayers (Prince George's Co., MD / Stevenson) and Jaylon Simpson (Atlanta, GA / Belmont Abbey) hit threes to secure a run of momentum in Cairn's (7-2 / 2-0 UNITED EAST) favor. Classmate Corey Baldwin (Henderson, NC / Averett) tipped in an offensive board to make the lead five as graduate guard Byron Gaskins (Woodbridge, VA / Carlow) hit a three. Simpson fought for a layup through contact, completing the free throw, growing the advantage to ten.
 
Wilson (2-7 / 0-2 UNITED EAST) responded on a three, which was followed by a triple from the hand of sophomore guard Andrew DaCosta (Bordentown, NJ / Bordentown Regional). Ayers had the next two buckets before the Phoenix went on a streak, cutting the margin to one point. DaCosta hit another three to put Cairn back up five, adding a layup later for a narrow 48-46 Highlander lead at the break.
 
Ayers opened the second half with a three and mid-range shot as Baldwin fired off a three. Wilson had another momentum swing as the Cairn offense briefly went cold, stringing together scores to make it a one-point game at the seven-minute mark. Baldwin hit a pair of threes with Ayers scoring another to keep the Highlanders close. As the Phoenix threatened in the closing minutes, Baldwin made a layup after graduate guard Chris Hill (Charlotte, NC / St. Augustine's University) grabbed an offensive board. With Wilson tying the game, Baldwin got to the cup for a layup with two seconds left. The Phoenix tied the game with two free throws, forcing overtime.
 
The Phoenix had the first scores in overtime two minutes in, going ahead by four. Simpson made a layup with DaCosta splashing another three to give Cairn the lead. After coming up empty on their next trip down the floor, Wilson would foul Simpson, putting the Highlanders up three as they made key free throws to win 93-89.
 
Simpson tied a game-high 23 points while Baldwin had a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, adding seven assists and four steals, as both would play more than forty minutes. Ayers had 16 with a pair of threes with DaCosta next with 13 on 3-5 shooting from behind the arc. Hill rounded out the double-digit scorers with eleven points and nine boards.
 
Play continues for the Highlanders on Friday at Penn St. Berks in non-conference action.