RADNOR, Pa. – For the 39th consecutive Colonial States Athletic Conference game, the Cabrini College men's basketball team has successfully defended the Nerney Field House floor. The Cavaliers improved to 14-1 and 9-0 in the CSAC with today's 74-52 win over the visiting Marywood University Pacers.
The #13 Cavaliers used a dominant first half and balanced offense to run away from Marywood before the halftime break. Eight Cavaliers tallied points before the break, as Cabrini held the Pacers to just five field goals before the half.
The Cavaliers jumped out to an early 7-2 lead just three minutes into the game. Just under 12 minutes into the game, a lay-up by sophomore Fran Rafferty (King of Prussia, Pa./ Upper Merion) gave Cabrini a 26-7 lead. The Blue and White extended its lead to 24 points when sophomore Jon Miller finished a lay-up with just over one minute until halftime.
In his first start of the season, junior Jeremy Knowles (Antioch, Cal./ Pittsburg) powers the Cavaliers offense in the first half with 11 points including 3-5 from beyond the three point arc. Rafferty added nine points for the Cavaliers. Senior guard Cory Lemons (Wilmington, Del./ Glasgow) seven first half assists helped Cabrini turn eight Marywood turnovers into eight points.
The Blue and White continued to get solid contributions from the entire roster in the second half. Cabrini extended its lead to a game-high 29 points at the 7:13 mark when junior Abraham Bah (Philadelphia, Pa./ Freire Charter) completed a traditional three-point play.
The Cavaliers shot just 37% from the floor after halftime but connected on 15 of its 19 second half free throw attempts.
Knowles double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds led four Cavaliers in double-figure scoring. Rafferty finished with 11 points, while reserves Aaron Walton-Moss (Camden, N.J./ Camden) and Bah finished the game with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Senior John Boyd (Trappe, Pa./ Perkiomen Valley) added nine points in the victory.
Lemons completed the contest with seven points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals against just one turnover.
Senior forward Matt Lepri led Marywood with 15 points. Freshman Pierre Bakinde recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 boards.
Cabrini will look for its 40th consecutive CSAC home win on Wednesday when rival Gwynedd-Mercy College visits Nerney Field House. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. after the completion of the women's game.