CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. – the Cabrini men's basketball team's perfect season came to an end today, as the No. 2 Cavaliers fell to Baptist Bible College 106-97. The loss drops the Blue and White to 20-1 overall and 14-1 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.
Junior Vinny Walls led four Cavaliers in double figures with 29 points, including 4-6 from three point range. Fellow junior Aaron Walton-Moss added 21 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Senior Fran Rafferty paired 13 points and nine rebounds, while senior reserve Vernon Robinson posted 13 points, four rebounds, six assist and five steals, all career highs.
The Defenders wasted little time jumping ahead, as they opened the game 11-3. Cabrini fought back to get within one point at 16-15 but Baptist Bible used an 11-2 run to extend its lead back to 10 points. The Defenders hit 8-15 from three point range as they built their lead to as high as 16 points before the half.
After trailing 56-40 at the break, the Blue and White fought valiantly to get back into the game, shuttling its deficit to 67-62 on a Walton-Moss lay-up with 11:29 to play. Baptist Bible responded with a pair of three pointers on their next two possessions, stretching their lead back to 11 points.
The Defenders' 106 points are the most Cabrini has surrendered since a 108-96 loss to Gwynedd –Mercy in the 2009 CSAC championship games. It also marks just the fifth time under head coach Marcus Kahn that the Blue and White has surrendered over 100 points.
Six Defenders (8-15, 5-11 CSAC) scored in double figures, led by sophomore Abe Valentine who netted a career high 36 points, including a career best 6-9 from three point range, to go with seven assist and three steals. Senior Luke Peterson added 16 points on 4-7 from deep.
The Cavaliers have little time to regroup as they visit Neumann University (16-7, 11-5 CSAC) on Monday. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Aston, Pa.