ROSEMONT, Pa. – The Cabrini men's basketball team fought back from its largest deficit of the season today before emerging with a 75-74 win at Rosemont College. The No. 2 Cavaliers improved to 18-0 overall and 12-0 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference with the road victory.
The Cavaliers played without leading scorer Aaron Walton-Moss, who injured his ankle in Thursday's win vs. Gwynedd Mercy.
Six players scored at least eight points in the win, led by junior Vinny Walls' 14 points, who also grabbed four rebounds and served up four assists. Senior Jon Miller added 11 points and three blocked shots.
Senior Vernon Robinson made the most of his 14 minutes, tallying a career high 10 points, including seven points in the final 2:21 of the game. Freshman Deryl Bagwell chipped in with nine points and a team high six rebounds.
Both teams tried to wrestle control of an opening half that features six lead changes and nine ties, with neither establishing a lead of more than three points until late in the stanza. Trailing 31-28 with 3:45 left in the half, Rosemont embarked on a 13-0 spurt to build a 41-31 lead with 38 seconds left in the half. Sophomore Brad Fagan's late three pointer cut Cabrini's deficit to 41-34 after 20 minutes.
Following a Rosemont jumper to open the second half, Cabrini used a Robinson lay-up and Miller dunk to key an 8-1 spurt to cut the Raven's advantage back to 44-42 with 14:12 on the clock. Minutes later, a 7-0 run by Walls and Miller game Cabrini a lead with 10:15 to play that it would not relinquish.
Though Rosemont evened the score twice in the final minutes, Cabrini always had an answer. A quick seven points from Bagwell and a Robinson three pointer immediately returned the lead on the Blue and White's next possession. Miller and Robinson sealed the game from the free throw line, connecting on 6-6 in the game's final two minutes.
Cabrini connected on nearly 58% from the floor, including 10 of 20 from the 3-point line on the day. The club also converted 13 of its 18 trips to the charity stripe, including 12-16 in the second half.
Freshman Brennan McCann tallied nine points 4-5 from the floor, while Fagan finished the day with eight points, including a pair of three pointers.
Dom Scafidi led Rosemont (9-11, 7-6 CSAC) with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Nadir Stukes added 15 points for the Ravens.
Cabrini's victory sets up Monday anticipated meeting against No. 9 Wesley College (17-1), winners of 12 straight games. Tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Nerney Field House.