RADNOR, Pa. – The Cabrini men's basketball team shot more than 48 percent from the field in the second half and converted 50 percent of its attempts in overtime en route to an 86-83 win versus Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) rival Gwynedd-Mercy College on Thursday night at Nerney Field House. The victory extends the Cavaliers' overall home win streak to 15 games and their conference home win streak to 25 games.
The win also goes into the books as the 50th for head coach Marcus Kahn in just over two full seasons coached at Cabrini. Kahn, the reigning two-time CSAC Coach of the Year, owns a 50-12 mark as the Cavaliers' mentor.
For the third time in four games in 2010-11, the Cabrini offense boasted four scorers in double figures, led by sophomore point guard Cory Lemons' season-best 21-point effort. Lemons shot 8-for-14 from the field and flirted with a triple-double, also grabbing eight rebounds and handing out seven assists.
Senior forward Dom Farrello posted his second career double-double and his first since the 2008-09 season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Farrello's last double-double (12 points, 15 rebounds) came against Immaculata University on Jan. 22, 2009.
Sophomore center Goran Dulac, playing in his second game back from injury, totaled a career-high 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting and collected eight rebounds. Dulac scored five critical points in overtime, including four on two lay-ins off feeds from Lemons.
Freshman forward Fran Rafferty paired a season-high 14 points with eight rebounds. Rafferty shot 5-for-12 from the field overall and also knocked down four 3-point field goals.
Senior guard Lamar Fisher contributed six points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting in a spirited 13-minute run off the bench. Junior forward Brandon Carter netted seven points and pulled in four rebounds.
The Cavaliers and Griffins played a traditional game of cat-and-mouse in the first half as the lead changed hands on nine different occasions. Gwynedd-Mercy lead by as much as seven points, 32-25, with 2:25 remaining before the intermission, but owned just a three-point edge, 36-33, at the break.
Cabrini secured its first lead of the game since the 10:02 mark of the first half with an old-fashion 3-point conversion from Dulac with 18:31 remaining. The Cavaliers pushed their lead to five points, 47-42, at the 16:29 mark.
The seesaw battle resumed as GMC answered the Cabrini jab with a counter punch of its own, surging to a 57-53 lead with just under 10 minutes on the clock.
However, an 8-1 lead for the Cavaliers over the next four minutes put the hosts in front 64-60 at the 6:15 mark. The Blue & White led 72-69 with 59 ticks left. But, GMC junior guard Dan Delconte's 3-point play and two Cabrini turnovers down the stretch forced the game into overtime.
The Cavaliers' overtime effort was aided by two huge 3-point baskets, one from Lemons on the first possession and a second from Farrello that stretch the Cabrini lead to 79-74 with 2:45 remaining.
The Blue & White ballooned its overtime advantage to six points, 86-80, with 20 seconds on the clock. The Griffins pulled within three on a 3-point play from senior forward Jon Hogga before his full-court heave at the horn sailed over the backboard.
Hogga led GMC's 53-46 advantage on the glass with 20 rebounds. He also added 11 points. Delconte scored a game-high 24 points for the Griffins. Freshman guard Brandyn Wims added 16 points in 36 minutes off the bench.
The Cavaliers are now 2-0 at home this season and have won 15 straight contests at Nerney Field House, dating back to the start of last season. The Blue & White also owns a 25-game win streak at home against CSAC opponents, dating back to a 74-68 loss versus Gwynedd-Mercy College on Jan. 31, 2008.
Cabrini (3-1, 1-0) resumes its CSAC schedule on the road versus Rosemont College on Saturday, Dec. 4. Game time with the Ravens is set for 2 p.m.