RADNOR, Pa. – Santa Claus left a thriller under the Nerney Field House Christmas tree today, as the #11 Cabrini men's basketball team rallied to beat the University of Scranton Royals 71-68 this afternoon. The victory marks Cabrini's best start under head Coach Marcus Kahn at 8-0 and extends its home winning streak to 33 games.
For the first time this season, a team really took it to the Cavaliers from the opening whistle. After senior Cory Lemons opened the scoring with a lay-up, the Royals took control of the game, establishing a 13-6 lead just 3:23 into the game.
A three-pointer by junior Goran Dulac at the 14:06 mark tied the score at 13. The Cavaliers kept the score close, even after Lemons. Cabrini's leading scorer went to the bench with two fouls. A Lemon's lay-up just before the first half buzzer cut Scranton's lead to 38-33 at the half.
A 71% free throw shooting team coming into the game, the Cavaliers connected on just 45% of their attempts in the first half and made just two of their nine three-point attempts before the break.
The Royals extended their lead to 52-39 with 14 minutes on the clock. The Cavaliers weren't playing particularly well and found themselves with six team fouls. With Cabrini's next foul, Scranton would head to the line.
The Blue and White responded with an 11-4, keyed by sophomore Fran Rafferty who scored eight points during the spurt. A three from junior reserve Jeremy Knowles cut the deficit to four points at 54-50 with 11:17 on the clock.
During a span of nearly 14 minutes, Rafferty and Knowles carried Cabrini's offense, tallying 21 of the club's 26 points. The Cavaliers found themselves trailing 68-66 after a lay-up by junior guard A.J. Williams with just over two minutes to play.
After the Royals missed two free throws, Lemons found Williams deep in the corner for his only three-pointer of the day. The bucket, with 1:40 on the clock, gave the Cavaliers their first lead of the second half.
Scranton missed two more free throws but grabbed an offensive rebound, giving them the ball, down one with just over a minute on clock. After a Royals' timeout, Knowles made his game-high third theft of the game.
After a Cabrini timeout, the Blue and White had the ball and a one point. With 44 seconds on the clock, Coach Kahn put the ball in the hands of his All-American. Lemons dribbled the ball near the midcourt line, allowing the shot clock to run down.
With the play clock nearing expiration, Lemons began to attack on the dribble and calmly pulled up for the top of the key, just inside the three-point line. Release… Rotation… Splash! Lemons' bucket game sealed Cabrini's win and 11 point second half comeback.
Lemons led four Cavaliers in double figures with 16 points, while adding six assists. Knowles finished with 15 points and eight boards. Rafferty narrowly missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Senior John Boyd added 11 points in the win.
After Christmas, the Cavalier will travel to Danville, Ky. to play in the Papa John's/ Country Hearth Inn Tournament, hosted by Centre College. Cabrini will open the tournament against John s Hopkins University on December 29 at 5:00 p.m. and will face either Berry College or the host on December 30.