BRYN ATHYN, Pa. – The Cairn University men's basketball bounced team back following their first conference defeat earlier in the week with an 85-76 victory on the road at Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) adversary Bryn Athyn College inside Asplundh Field House on Saturday afternoon.
"I thought we did a great job tonight attacking their zone as well as their press." remarked Head Coach Jason O'Connell. "Bryn Athyn typically turns teams over at a high rate, so leaving the game with only 14 turnovers was great to see. We had several guys play a larger role than usual tonight due to some players being out and each guy in the rotation stepped up. I'm excited to see how we can continue to grow in the upcoming weeks."
Cairn (10-7, 5-1 CSAC) struck first, claiming an 18-14 lead just under eight minutes in off the back of eight points a-piece in the run by fifth-year Kameron Clark (Ewing, NJ / Ewing HS) and junior Derian Bradford (Lansdale, PA / University of Valley Forge). Bryn Athyn (8-9, 2-4 CSAC) responded with a 5-0 sprint to claim the lead at 19-18 just one minute later, and held a 40-37 lead at intermission.
The Lions got the lead up to seven (44-37) at its largest point with a pair of baskets to start the second frame. However, the Highlanders ignited a 17-6 run to reclaim the advantage at 54-50 9:36 to play. The contest remained tight down the stretch, as Cairn clung to a three-point advantage (65-62) with five minutes remaining. Cairn swung momentum firmly in its favor when Bradford buried a long-range heave off a stop-action with three seconds left on the shot clock, followed up by another three by classmate Matt Lucas (Quakertown, PA / Quakertown HS) on the next possession to give the Highlanders the edge they needed to close out the contest.
Cairn posted a season-best 55.2% (32-58) mark from the field compiled an 86.7% percentage (13-15) from the free throw line. Cairn held the Lions to 36.5% (26-53) shooting. Cairn dominated the paint to a 48-28 advantage and assisted 18 of its 32 buckets.
Cairn was led on offense by Clark with a team-high 18 points on nine-of-ten shooting. Bradford followed with 17 points, five boards and five assists. Lucas and fifth-year Dashaun Cain (Wilmington, DE / Red Lion Christian Academy) each added 12 points a-piece, while junior Owen Bradford (Lansdale, PA / University of Valley Forge) rounded out the Highlanders in double figures with 10 points. Sophomore Christian Rivera (Doylestown, PA / Central Bucks East) dished out a season-high six assists and matched Lucas with a team-high six boards.
Cairn will return from their road trip next week for a conference contest on Wednesday, January 25 inside the Mason Activity Center with Saint Elizabeth University at 7 p.m.