ROSEMONT, Pa. (February 8, 2012) – With the end of the season winding down and the CSAC playoffs in sight, the Cyclones were able to take home a must-win 88-78 victory over the Rosemont College Ravens on Wednesday night. The victory puts both teams at 8-8 in conference, but the Cyclones have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Ravens with a sweep of the team this season.
The game started off slow as both teams went scoreless to open up the first minute and a half before junior Warren Murphy (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) was able to nail a quick layup and free throw to put the Cyclones up 3-0 early on.
The game quickly picked up intensity with the help of three consecutive defensive rebounds by the Cyclones, as Max Hughes (Nazareth, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) was able to respond to a Raven free throw with a bucket from downtown to extend their lead out to 6-1.
After 5-3 run by the Cyclones, Rosemont took a quick timeout to regroup and responded with five unanswered points before a goaltending call on the Ravens swung the momentum right back to the Cyclones as they took their lead to 13-9.
The Ravens responded right back with a 9-2 run including a big block by Dan Kearny that gave Rosemont their first lead of the game at 16-15, but the Cyclones came right back with a layup and three-point foul to take the lead right back at 20-16 with just under nine minutes to go in the first half.
The Cyclones continued to dominate as they responded with back-to-back three-pointers from Murphy and Andy Charles (West Orange, N.J./Montclair) to put Centenary up 26-16. Following a Rosemont timeout, the Ravens came back with five more unanswered points, but Charles was able to deny a Raven shot and finish with his own layup to put the Cyclones up 28-21.
With the help of three unnecessary Cyclone fouls, the Ravens answered back with a 14-4 run to take back the lead at 35-32 lead, but Colin Horsch (Monroe Township, N.J./Atlantic Christian) was able to respond with a quick Centenary three to tie the game back at 35-35 with a minute to go in the half. Following a quick exchange, both teams entered the locker rooms with the score tied up at 37-37.
After giving up an initial basket, the Cyclones came out of the locker rooms fired up as they went on a 21-6 run with the help of their strong full-court press to put them back ahead 58-43 with just under 13 minutes remaining.
From that point on the Cyclone continued to dominate the rest of the second half until the Ravens were able to take an 80-64 Cyclone lead and respond with eight unanswered points to bring the game to 80-72 with just under a minute left in the game.
With the much-needed victory in sight, the Cyclones ensured the win as they went on to take an 88-78 victory over the Ravens. Five Cyclones scored in double-figures in the game as they were led by Murphy with a game-high 27 points on the night.