WASHINGTON, D.C., – Cairn Men's Basketball traveled to Washington, D.C., to face the Gallaudet Bison in a United East Conference matchup on Saturday with the Highlanders emerging victorious with a final score of 82-71.
 
Off the tip, Gallaudet (2-20 / 2-12 UNITED EAST) was in control, getting ahead by as much as six points. Graduate guard Corey Baldwin (Henderson, NC / Averett) helped cut the lead to two , grabbing an offensive rebound and converting it into two points with a tip-in before classmate Josiah Hardy (Ashburn, VA / Hampden-Sydney) tied the game on a layup. As the Bison attempted to pull the reigns back, senior guard Ashton West (Newport Beach, CA / Clarks Summit University) splashed a three to tie it back up as graduate guard Jaylon Simpson (Atlanta, GA / Belmont Abbey) and Baldwin both followed with a three-pointer each to fully swing the momentum Cairn's (11-12 / 8-6 UNITED EAST) way. Senior guard Christian Rivera (Cayey, Puerto Rico / Central Bucks East) then made a layup though contact, finishing the three-point play, as classmate Jonathan Desir (Feasterville, PA / Neshaminy) hit a three, assisted by Rivera, to push their lead to nine. As the Bison tried to make a difference before halftime, Baldwin closed the half for Cairn with a midrange bucket and a three-pointer to go to the break ahead 38-29.
 
The Highlanders ran away with it for a good majority of the second half as fifth year guard Isaiah Coleman (Fontana, CA / Clarks Summit University) got to work, leading the half with 18 points on 3-6 shooting from deep. West also had the hot hand as he scored 15 in the frame for the lead to reach beyond twenty points in the closing minutes. As Gallaudet tried for a late push, the distance was too far to come with the clock on Cairn's side, breaking the Highlanders' four-game slide.
 
West totaled twenty-four points with a pair of steals and four assists while Coleman had twenty on 3-8 shooting from three-point range and eight boards. Baldwin defended effectively, swatting three shots while adding twelve on the offensive side.
 
Cairn capitalized on points off turnovers with twenty-two and fastbreak points with twenty-three, truly making a difference in the game.
 
Cairn Men's Basketball will host their final regular season home game on Tuesday as the Keystone Giants make their way to Langhorne for a 7 p.m. tip off.