GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Cabrini's Aaron Walton-Moss tipped in the go-ahead bucket with 11 seconds left and a last-second half-court shot rimmed out as the Griffins fell to the second-ranked (D3hoops.com) Cavaliers, 80-77, in a very packed and very loud Griffin Complex Wednesday night.
Sophomore Darnell Artis scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, as Gwynedd Mercy (13-5, 9-2 CSAC) rallied from double-digit deficits. His heave just inside half court as the buzzer sounded put the Griffin faithful on their feet, but the shot rolled around and out to end the Griffin's six-game winning streak.
Moss led the Cavaliers (17-0, 11-0 CSAC) with 20 points, 22 rebounds, and 13 assists for his second triple-double of the season. Fran Rafferty added 17 while Jon Miller (15 points) and Vinny Walls (13 points) also hit for double figures.
Junior Justin Knight chipped in 15 points, six boards, and five assists. Junior Tom McKeefery had his first career double-double, registering 10 points and 10 rebounds along with a pair of blocks.
Early on, the Griffins and Cavaliers traded blows, keeping the scoring close. It wasn't until a 10-0 Cabrini spurt that turned a 12-9 deficit into a seven-point lead. Seemingly every Gwynedd a run would be countered. A 14-3 Cabrini run would put GM in a 35-20 hole as Miller would drive inside for two and get fouled. Later his bucket put Gwynedd in a 16-point deficit before Artis, who would hit five treys on the night, drained one from deep on their final possession of the half to send the Cavaliers up 42-29 at the break.
In the second back-to-back three-pointers from junior Brian Hennessey turned a 12-point Cabrini edge into a 53-47 game 13 minutes to go. McKeefery's leaner in the paint pulled GM to a four-point game (55-51) before Cabrini ran off nine-straight points, courtesy of three treys in a row to restore a double-digit edge and force the Griffins to call timeout.
Gwynedd hung around and would make their move with just over two minutes in the game. After a big three from Knight to get within three (76-73), junior Colin Gates would pull down a big offensive rebound on a Hennessey miss and draw a foul. His two free-throws put it at a one-point contest. On their next possession, it would be Knight heading to the rim and getting fouled in the process. His two attempts at the line were good with 22 ticks left, giving GM their first lead since early in the game.
Moss was able to tip in a rebound from Miller in the paint with 11 seconds. With a final offensive chance pending, Knight was forced out of bounds, turning the ball back over to Cabrini. After a foul on Moss, he would hit both trips at the charity stripe for an 80-77 score with 2.8 second showing.
After drawing up a play on their final timeout, Artis was able to split a pair of defenders on the press and get off a final shot, but it did not fall.
Hennessey would finish with 13 points. He and Knight each drained three treys respectively as GM connected on a season-high 14 from beyond the arc.
The Griffins, who shot just 28% in the first half, responded by going on a 38% clip in the second to finish 24-of-71 (33%) for the game and as a team would outrebound Cabrini, 42-41. The Cavaliers shot over 45% in both halves to end up 30-of-64 from the floor.