RADNOR, Pa. – The 2011-12 Cabrini College men's basketball team sits just one win away from the school's third perfect conference record after today's 85-55 Senior Day win over Philadelphia Biblical University. The win, Cabrini's 43rd consecutive over a Colonial States Athletic Conference opponent, leaves the Cavaliers at 17-0 in conference and 23-1 overall.
Senior Greg Zabel (Scotch Plains, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood) had a career day in just his second start. In his final regular season home game, the senior posted 21 points on 7-12 shooting, including 2-2 from three-point range and 5-5 from the free throw line, sixteen of the seniors' points coming in the second half.
The Cavaliers wasted little time jumping on the Crimson Eagles, as sophomore Fran Rafferty (King of Prussia, Pa./ Upper Merion) scored the game's first five points. The Blue and White led 12-0 before Philadelphia Biblical got on the scoreboard, just over four minutes into the game.
Once the lead was established, the Cavaliers did not relax. The Blue and White extended its lead to 41-20 after a 9-0 run late in the half.
By the break, Cabrini established a 46-29 lead on the strength of its dominance of the painted area.
Thirty of Cabrini's points came in the lane, including 15 second chance points. The Cavaliers also got 30 points from their bench, led by junior Jeremy Knowles (Antioch, Pa./ Pittsburg) who netted 10 points before the break.
The Crimson Eagles cut Cabrini's lead to 14 points early in the half, but a lay-up from senior John Boyd (Trappe, Pa./ Perkiomen Valley) and six consecutive Zabel points pushed the lead back to 22 points.
The Blue and White continued to extend its lead as it held PBU to just 33.3% shooting from the field and turned 10 PBU second half turnovers into 13 points.
Seniors Boyd and Cory Lemons (Wilmington, Pa./ Glasgow) joined Zabel in their final regular season home appearance. Boyd finished with four points, three rebounds, and two steals. Lemons added five points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Junior A.J. Williams (Wilmington, Del./ St. Elizabeth) and freshman Aaron Walton-Moss (Camden, N.J./ Camden) joined Knowles with 10 points. Junior Abraham Bah (Philadelphia, Pa./ Freire Charter) finished with seven points including an impressive alley-oop from Rafferty.
Walton-Moss led Cabrini's rebounding effort with eight boards, including five on the offensive glass. Junior Goran Dulac (Levittown, Pa./ Pennsbury) joined Lemons with six rebounds, while Knowles and Bah grabbed five caroms apiece.
Through their years, Cabrini's seniors have gone 47-7, including 33-2 against conference foes, winning 2 CSAC titles. They are also unbeaten on the Nerney Field House floor, a perfect 27-0.
Adam Derus led the Crimson Eagles with 21 points, while Charles Kennedy posted a double-double with 12 points and rebounds.
Cabrini will close its season on Wednesday, as they travel to La Plume, Pa. to face Keystone College at 7:00 p.m.
Having already clinched the #1 seed in the upcoming CSAC postseason tournament, the Cavaliers have secured a first round tournament bye. Cabrini will host a semifinal game on Tuesday, January 21 at Nerney Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.