LANGHORNE, PA – Cairn Men's Basketball opened their season on Saturday afternoon, dropping their home opener to Lebanon Valley, 85-82.
Lebanon Valley (1-0) got out to an 11-points lead to open the season with the early comeback effort fueled by graduate guard Jaylon Simpson (Atlanta, GA / Belmont Abbey) with two triples and a free throw in the first five minutes, the only Highlander in the scoring column to that point. As the Dutchmen got their lead into double-digits, fifth year guard Isaiah Coleman (Fontana, CA / Clarks Summit University) knocked down a pair of free throws followed by a fastbreak layup from senior guard Ashton West (Newport Beach, CA / Clarks Summit University). Junior guard Moses Ilodigwe (Wilmington, DE / Lycoming College) knocked down a three followed by a dunk from West to cut the deficit to four. Lebanon Valley responded with a three and slam of their own to help put the lead back up to 11, stretching the margin as far as 18 before the halftime break.
After regrouping, Cairn (0-1) opened the second half on a 10-2 run, including a big dunk from Simpson off the senior guard Christian Rivera (Cayey, Puerto Rico / Central Bucks East) lob. With the Dutchmen threatening to break the game open with twelve minutes to play, Simpson knocked down a three in transition to keep the Highlanders within striking distance. Senior guard Jonathan Desir (Feasterville, PA / Neshaminy) got the scoring run started with a layup, followed by a layup from Rivera and three by graduate guard Corey Baldwin (Henderson, NC / Averett), cutting the Lebanon Valey lead to six. After a timeout, West scored a layup followed by another three from Baldwin to make it a one-possession game with eight minutes and change remaining. West would be fouled on the shot, burying a pair from the charity stripe to put Cairn down by one. The Dutchmen kept responding, building their lead back up to ten rapidly with two minutes now left in the game. West knocked down a jumper to get back within single digits. Simpson was fouled on a try from behind the arc, making two of three at the line. West then drove on the next front court possession, scoring the layup with contact and earning the and-one, finishing the three-point-play to once again cut the lead to one possession. The Highlanders would have to use late take fouls to put Lebanon Valley on the free throwing line which game them a shot for the tie at the horn where Simpson missed from sixty feet by mere inches.
The winning strategy on Saturday was shooting percentage, to which the Highlanders shot 33% in the first half to the Dutchmen's 54%, which they also maintained for the game. Cairn was 9-30 from behind the arc to Lebanon Valley's 33% (5-15). Simpson and West each score 19 in their debut for the Highlanders, Simpson shooting 4-7 from three-point range with three assists. West was perfect from the free throw line (5-5), grabbing three steals in the process. Baldwin had 13 points, grabbing 7 boards. Rivera was also in double figures with 10 points and five assists.
The Highlanders will match up next with DeSales University on Wednesday as they host the Bulldogs at 7 p.m. for their Whiteout game in the Mason Activity Center.