LANGHORNE, Pa. --- The Moravian University men's basketball squad dropped a 76-67 non-conference decision to host Cairn University Wednesday evening in the Greyhounds final contest before the new year. 

How It Happened

• The Greyhounds scored the game's first two points on a lay-up from sophomore forward Mike DiPietro. The Highlanders answered with an 11-0 run to build an 11-2 lead before sophomore guard Alex Dietz connected on a driving lay-up for the Blue and Grey. Moravian closed within 14-10 on a three-pointer from senior guard Danny Cooper, and the Hounds knotted the score at 20-20 on a lay-up from sophomore forward Thomas Abato with 9:05 to play in the first half
• Cairn responded with another 11-0 run to take a 31-20 lead with 5:08 before the intermission. Junior guard Nate Dougherty hit a lay-up for Moravian to break the run by the Highlanders. The Greyhounds would close within seven points as Cairn headed to the locker room with a 36-29 advantage
• Cooper opened the scoring in the second half with a three-pointer for the Hounds, and Moravian knotted the score at 38-38 on a driving lay-up from Dougherty just over three minutes into the half. The Blue and Grey eventually moved back in front, 45-44, on a three-pointer from Dietz with 14:09 to play; however, the Highlanders netted six straight points to retake a 50-45 edge
• Freshman forward Nate Santiago hit a step back jumper to pull the Hounds back within two points at 50-48 before a 7-0 run by Cairn extended the Highlanders advantage back to nine points at 57-48 with seven minutes to go. Cairn eventually stretched the lead to 64-51 with 5:20 remaining while Moravian answered with a 9-0 run as Cooper pulled the Greyhounds within four points at 64-60 at the 2:15 mark with a lay-up off a steal. The Highlanders answered by sinking five straight free throws to seal the victory 

Inside the Numbers

• The Greyhounds had four players in double figures let by Cooper and Dietz, who both tossed in 16 points. Cooper added a career-high nine rebounds, two assists and two steals while Dietz contributed four boards and three assists
• Dougherty finished with 14 points to go with a career-best seven assists, three steals and two rebounds while Santiago had ten points and a career-high nine boards
• DiPietro had five points and three rebounds while Abato added four points. Freshman forward Antonio Montgomery netted two points to go along with two rebounds while sophomore guard C.J. Weber also had two boards to go with a pair of assists
• The difference in the contest came down to the foul line where the Greyhounds went 8-for-11 while the Highlanders were 17-for-24
• The Hounds forced Cairn into 15 turnovers while Moravian had 12 miscues
• The Blue and Grey were playing their first contest since an exhibition at NCAA Division I University of Delaware on December 10 and the first game that counted statistically since a trip to Penn State Brandywine on December 8 

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Sunday, January 2 vs. Vassar (N.Y.) College in 41st Steel Club Classic, 4:30 p.m.
• Monday, January 3 vs. New York University in 41st Steel Club Classic, 3:30 p.m.