Langhorne, PA – Men's Basketball Failed to put all the pieces together and fell short against Penn State Brandywine 78-71.

Graduate guard Corey Baldwin (Henderson, NC / Averett) got off to a hot start for Cairn (11-5 / 3-1 UNITED EAST) knocking down a 3-point jumper on the first Highlanders possession of the game and following this up by collecting a block and rebound on the defensive end. The Highlanders went back and forth with Penn State Brandywine (8-8 / 3-1 UNITED EAST) for the remainder of the first half, ending the frame with a short jumper by graduate guard Byron Gaskins (Woodbridge, VA / Carlow) cutting the Nittney Lion lead to 3. 

Cairn started the second half slow, missing their first four shots and letting Brandywine extend the lead to 7 points. Graduate guard Ron Ayers ( Prince George's County, MD / Stevenson University) finally kicked off the Highlander's second half scoring by sinking a shot from beyond the arc. Graduate guard Chris Hill(Charlotte, NC / Saint Augustine University) then rattled off 5 straight points on a mid-range jumper and a 3-pointer of his own to give the Highlanders a 1 point advantage. Cairn and Brandywine kept exchanging baskets while Brandywine slowly built a 7 point lead. 4 straight made free throws from graduate guard Jaylon Simpson (Atlanta, GA / Belmont Abbey) got the deficit down to 2 with just over a minute remaining, but Brandywine sealed the game by making free throws down the stretch and Cairn fell 78-71.

The Highlanders will continue conference play by going on the road to face-off with Rosemont on Tuesday January 13th at 5:30.