LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Rosemont Ravens men's basketball team opened their conference schedule tonight at Cairn University. Neither team looked ready to go on Thanksgiving Break, though, as the teams went to two overtimes before the Ravens held on to a 104-102 win. For Rosemont, it was their second consecutive win, and they are now 2-1 overall (1-0 CSAC). The Highlanders fell to 1-2 overall (0-1 CSAC) with the decision.
 
Early in the contest it looked like the Ravens would have an easy time tonight. Though the Highlanders led early in the first half, a layup from Itay Levy would give the Ravens their first lead of the game, 14-13, about 7 ½ minutes into the contest. Ahead 16-15, Rosemont would put together a seven point run to take the lead, 23-15 halfway through the first. The Highlanders would fight back to within three points with Rosemont leading 26-23, but the Ravens responded with another run, this time an eight-pointer, to take control 34-23 with under four minutes left in the half. The Ravens extended their lead to 15 points, and went into the break ahead by 12, 42-30.
 
A Khadim Diaw layup started the second half putting Rosemont up by 14, but the Highlanders started to make good on their comeback attempt, outscoring Rosemont 37-23 to tie the game with just under eight minutes left. A Kyle Lafferty 3-point play and another layup from Lafferty once again put the Ravens on top, this time by five with 7:10 left. Cairn scrapped back to re-tie the game at 67-67 with 6:13 left. The Ravens bent, but looked like they wouldn't break in the half, upping their lead to six points, 82-76 after a Jamier Hughes layup with 1:47 left in the game. Once again, the home side would find a way to come back. With Rosemont ahead by three, Cairn's offense missed a three pointer, but the Highlanders got the offensive board and kicked the ball out to Zachary Dolton who hit the trey to tie the game in the last score of regulation, tying the score at 84-84.
 
It looked like the momentum that Cairn built in their comeback would carry the game early on in the first overtime period when the Highlanders opened up the OT by scoring the first nine points, and their 12^th straight points to take what appeared to be a commanding nine-point lead, 93-84 with only 2:13 left on the clock. The Ravens were certainly not done for the night, as they popped back to score the final nine points of the first OT period on buckets by Clayton Wolfe, Khai Roberts, Kyle Lafferty and Jamier Hughes to once again knot the game when the buzzer sounded.
 
The Ravens made it 12 points in a row when Wolfe opened up the second OT with a three-ball on a pass from Charles Presley to give the Ravens their first lead since regulation, 96-93. The Ravens managed to get their lead to five points, but once again, the Highlanders found a way to come back when JD Zamroz's three pointer knotted the game at 102-102 with 18 seconds left. Fourteen seconds later, Clayton Wolfe would score from down under the bucket to give the Ravens the lead, 104-102, and it took a solid stop on the last Cairn possession to end the evening with the Ravens in front for the win.
 
Jamier Hughes claimed a double-double for his second straight game, again leading the Ravens on the scoreboard with 28 while pulling in 14 rebounds. Kyle Lafferty scored 24 with seven boards. Khai Roberts (19), Clayton Wolfe (11), and Itay Levy (10) all scored in double-digits for the Ravens.
 
Though Cairn outshot the Ravens from the field, 50.7% to 44.9%, Rosemont took 16 more shots and made 40 field goals compared to 37 from the Highlanders. The three-point shot kept Cairn in this game as they converted 14 (41.2%), while Rosemont made nine (37.5%).
 
The Ravens were more careful with the ball, committing only nine turnovers in 50 minutes compared with 19 turnovers for Cairn. Rosemont's bench also accounted for 16 points compared to six for Cairn. Rosemont's quick hands accounted for 13 steals (three for the Highlanders).
 
The team will take to the court at Gynedd Mercy University on Saturday when they will face the Rowan University Profs in a Coaches vs. Cancer game. The non-conference game is slated for a 2:00pm start.