LANGHORNE, PA – Cairn Men's Basketball, continuing their homestand, faced the Pioneers of William Paterson University on Wednesday night, obtaining their first win of the season with a hard-fought 77-65 victory.
 
The Highlanders came out of the gate quickly, and in only thirty seconds, graduate forward Josiah Hardy (Ashburn, VA / Hampden-Sydney) drilled in a three-pointer. Senior guard Ashton West (Newport Beach, CA / Clarks Summit), right behind him, tipped in a rebound in their next offensive opportunity. With a swatted shot from graduate guard Jaylon Simpson's (Atlanta, GA / Belmont Abbey), senior guard Jonathan Desir (Feasterville, PA / Neshaminy) scored six straight points on his own, a three and made bucket with the foul and free throw. From there, fifth-year guard Isaiah Coleman (Fontana, CA / Clarks Summit University), West and Hardy controlled the court for the next ten minutes, bringing Cairn (1-2) to a 30-29 lead. They collectively had four layups, four three-pointers, and a jump shot, a total of 22 points for the group. Simpson made his entrance to the scoring frame with two successful free throws. William Paterson (2-2) controlled the lead with two minutes to go in the half, getting as far as four points. Closing the first half, Coleman drained another three to put the Highlanders down only two, 35-37.
 
To kickstart the second half, West dominated the offense with a nine-point run on his own as the Pioneers looked to push away. Graduate guard Jadon Cepeda (West New York, NJ / William Paterson) tipped in a rebound to close the six-point gap. Junior Moses Ilodigwe (Wilmington, DE / Lycoming), getting the momentum going, reset the pace for Highlanders, starting them off with two threes, which was then followed by two tip-ins from Simpson and Hardy. In style, Simpson started a three-point pattern for Cairn, now regaining the lead for the first time that half. He and Desir would make three triples as a pair with Simpson splashing a jumper and a layup extending the lead to double figures. The Highlanders were now running with pace and the lead as West, stealing the ball off a fastbreak, marched down the court to earn another two points. Senior guard Christian Rivera (Cayey, Puerto Rico / Central Bucks East) would drain two free throws for the dagger to secure Cairn's first victory of the season.  
 
Simpson and West each finished with 17 points, Simpson on 3-7 shooting from behind the arc along with six rebounds and a pair of steals. West added seven boards with three steals as Coleman had 11 points, also making three triples. On the defensive end, Hardy tallied four blocked shots, grabbing ten rebounds in the process. Rivera dished out a game-high nine assists as well.
 
Cairn Men's Basketball will look to take another win on Saturday against Penn St. Berks for Faculty Appreciation Night. Play begins at 3 p.m. inside the Mason Activity Center.