HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Player of the Year Chris LaBelle scored a game-high 43 points but it was not enough as the No. 1 Centenary University men's basketball team fell to No. 2 Cairn University in the CSAC Championship game on Saturday night.

LaBelle's 43 points in the contest gave him 622 points for the season. He is the first player in school history to score over 600 points in a single-season. The junior guard also set the school record for single-game free throws for the third time this year, as he knocked down 19 chances from the charity stripe.

The Cyclones jumped out to a quick 11-3 lead as sophomore Billy Veras hit a jumper at 16:42.

A traditional three-point play from Veras at the 15-minute mark extended the Centenary advantage to 18-7.

The two teams traded points over the next several minutes. Five straight points from LaBelle, including a three-pointer, gave Centenary its largest lead of the game, 35-21 with 9:36 to go until the half.

Cairn responded with a 15-3 run and cut the Cyclones' advantage to 38-36 with 6:01 showing on the clock. Julian Collazo and Kameron Clark each scored four points during that stretch.

Centenary scored nine of the next 11 points in the contest and pushed its lead to 47-40 with 3:47 to go until the break.

Senior Pablo Vasquez's lay-up put the home team on top, 49-42 at 2:26.

Cairn cut the lead to 49-46 with 1:31 showing on the clock as Malachi Hall had a driving lay-up.

Centenary closed the half on a 7-3 run and took a 56-49 lead at the break.

After LaBelle scored the first two points of the second half from the foul line, Cairn went on a 16-4 run and took a 65-62 lead with 15:07 to play in the game. Jeremiah Harris had seven points in that scoring spurt.

Centenary scored six of the next nine points in the game and tied the game at 68-68 with 14:13 showing on the clock. LaBelle and freshman D'Angelo Blackmond each had three points in that stretch.

A 12-6 run gave the visitors an 80-74 lead with 10:33 to go in the game.

A 7-1 run allowed Centenary to tie the game at 81-81 with 7:46 showing on the clock. LaBelle had four points during that stretch.

The Cyclones and Highlanders traded points as a bucket from Clark at 4:50 gave the visitors a 91-86 advantage.

Centenary scored six straight points and took a 92-91 edge with 3:38 to play in the contest. LaBelle had a traditional three-point play in that run. However, that was the last lead the Cyclones held in the contest.

Cairn went 17-for-18 from the foul line in the final three and half minutes to seal the 113-105 win.

Cairn shot 48.6 percent from the field and made 36-of-46 chances from the foul line. The Cyclones posted a 47.1 field goal percentage and knocked down 31-of-40 chances from the charity stripe. Cairn won the rebounding battle, 46-39.

It was LaBelle's second game this season with 40 or more points scored. He added six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Sophomore Harrison Lucibello contributed 14 points and five rebounds while Blackmond and senior Tom Weiler each had 12 points.

Collazo, who was named the CSAC Tournament MVP, finished with 21 points and five rebounds for Cairn.