Box Score

LANGHORNE, Pa.- The Immaculata men's basketball team (8-9, 6-4 CSAC) travelled to Cairn University on Saturday afternoon looking to complete a season sweep of the Highlanders (3-13, 1-9 CSAC), and trailing 56-54 with eight minutes to go in the contest, the Mighty Macs used a 23-5 run to close out the game and come away with a 77-61 victory on the road.
 
Sophomore Mike Piekarski had a solid game across the board with a team-high 18 points, four blocks, three steals, and six rebounds.  Senior Matt Simon was the other Mighty Mac to reach double figures with 10 points and added eight rebounds, while junior Eric Pittman Jr. (7-for-10 FT) and freshman Jordan Ambrose added nine points each.  Senior Roy Ferrell Jr. had a team-high 10 rebounds and also contributed eight points.
 
Trailing by two for the first time since the first possession, the Mighty Macs were in need of a run to get back in front and they did just that.  Pittman Jr. hit a pair of free throws to tie the game and the next possession, Piekarski put the Macs in front for good with a layup.
 
Following a Highlander free throw to cut the IU lead to one point, the Macs ripped off 15 straight points to build an insurmountable lead while holding the Highlanders to three straight misses followed by four consecutive turnovers.  Ferrell Jr. hit a jumper to start the run, followed by a free throw from Simon before another layup by Ferrell Jr. to make it a six point lead.
 
Piekarski then took over with a traditional three-point play followed by a dunk to grow the lead to 11.  Simon then drilled his first three of the game and Ferrell Jr. laid one in to cap the run as the Macs led 73-57 with 2:38 remaining in the game.
 
From there, the Macs were able to hold their lead and finish off the 77-61 victory.
 
Cairn took the first lead of the game on the first possession, but the Macs scored nine straight, seven of them from Piekarski to put IU up 9-2 early.
 
IU had the lead up to 10 at 26-16 with eight minutes to go before halftime, but the Highlanders scored five straight to cut the deficit to five.  IU then touched off a 12-0 run to get their largest lead of the game of 17 points at 38-21.  Five different Mighty Macs scored during the spurt to surge them in front.  Cairn whittled the lead down to 10 at 41-31 at halftime.
 
Cairn then battled for the first part of the second half to take their first lead since 19:41 in the first half at 56-54 when IU went on their clinching run.
 
The Mighty Macs will return to Alumnae Hall on Wednesday night to host Cabrini.