RADNOR, Pa. – The Cabrini men's basketball team advanced to its sixth consecutive Colonial States Athletic Conference championship game with tonight's 109-97 victory over the visiting Rosemont Ravens. The Cavaliers (24-1) will host Neumann University (19-8) in Friday's title game, scheduled to tip at 7:00 p.m. at Nerney Field House.
All five starters scored at least eight points for the Cavaliers, but its was juniors Vinny Walls and Aaron Walton-Moss that led the club. Walls scored a career high 39 points on 15-23 shooting, including 4-7 from three point range, to go with seven rebounds and five steals. Walton-Moss nearly recorded his third triple-double of the season, posting 28 points on 9-15 from the floor, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
The Blue and White led the entire first half, as it connected on 62.2% shooting from the floor, including 6-14 from beyond the three point line. The Ravens responded with a solid shooting performance of their own to stay within reach.
Cabrini started to put a little distance between itself and Rosemont in the latter minutes of the first half, as freshman Brennan McCann's lay-up with 4:25 to play extended the lead to 44-33. A McCann three pointer put the Cavaliers up 54-41 with 2:07 left in the first half before a late Rosemont bucket sent the teams to the locker room with Cabrini leading 54-43 at the break.
The Ravens came out of the locker room with a renewed sense of determination, as it used a 16-4 spurt to build its first lead of the night, a 63-62 advantage with 12:57 to play. Cabrini wasted little time regaining the home crowd's energy, as seven consecutive Walton-Moss points keyed a 13-2 run to rebuild its 10 point cushion at 75-65.
Each time it looked as though Rosemont was ready to make a push, Walls or Walton-Moss came up with a bucket, as the duo combined for 43 of Cabrini's 55 second half points.
Cabrini shot 58.2% from the floor, its highest shooting percentage of the season, while its 109 points marks the fourth time this season the Blue and White have surpassed the century mark.
McCann finished the night with 15 points, including three three pointers in the first half. Senior Fran Rafferty added nine points, while fellow senior Jon Miller added eight,
Four Ravens (12-15) scored double figures, led by senior Dan Kearney's 19 points, including five treys. Junior Nadir Stukes paired 17 points and nine assists, while fellow junior recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Neumann, the third seed in the CSAC tournament, advanced to Friday's championship game with tonight's 95-78 win at second seeded Gwynedd Mercy. Reggie Coleman led four Knights in double figures with 22 points, while Lamon Church scored a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds off the bench.
Cabrini recorded a pair of victories over the Knights this season. Walton-Moss' 27 points, seven boards and seven assists led the Cavaliers to a 92-68 home win on Jan. 22, while he and Walls combined for 50 points in Cabrini's 84-72 win at Neumann on Feb. 17.