LANGHORNE, Pa. – The Cabrini men's basketball team extended its win streak to five games and increased its chances for a bye in the upcoming Colonial States Athletic Conference tournament today, as the Cavaliers scored a 101-54 victory at Cairn University.
With the win, the Blue and White improve to 15-9 overall and 12-5 in league play.
With one game left on its regular season slate, Cabrini holds a half game lead over Gwynedd Mercy and Neumann for the top spot in the conference standings. Gwynedd Mercy will visit Neumann on Monday before paying a visit to Nerney Field House on Wednesday.
The tournament's top two seeds will earn byes into the semifinal round of the tournament, while the top seed will earn home court advantage.
The Blue and White's offensive balance was on display today, as six Cavaliers scored in double figures.
Senior Aaron Walton-Moss led the way, falling just short of another triple double, with 17 points, a season-high 18 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Fellow senior Vinny Walls matched Walton-Moss with 17 points, including 10 consecutive points midway through the first half that blew the game open.
The trio of sophomore Ronny Paden and freshmen Jair Green and Tyheim Monroe tallied 12 points each on a combined 14-21 from the field and grabbed 15 boards. Sophomore Ryan Charity added 10 points and four rebounds in 15 minutes of action.
After the opening few minutes, the Cavaliers took full control of the game. Cabrini built a 25-15 lead at the 9:16 mark of the first half and extended it to20 points seven minutes later. A Walton-Moss three pointer just before the halftime buzzer sent the teams back to the locker room with the Blue and White ahead 50-30.
Cabrini turned it up on both sides of the floor after the break, outscoring Cairn 51-24 in the second half. Offensively, the Blue and White connected on 23 of its 38 field goal attempts for a whopping 60% from the floor. On the other side of the floor, the Cavaliers held the Highlanders to just seven made field goals after the break.
Today's offensive output also marked the fifth consecutive game in which the Cavaliers have scored at least 99 points. The Blue and White also shot .582 from the floor, its third highest field goal percentage of any game this season.
Darnell Clowney led Cairn (2-21, 2-14 CSAC) with 18 points, while Reuben Lacy paired 12 points and nine boards.
The Cavaliers will return to action on Wednesday, when they welcome Gwynedd Mercy (16-7, 11-5 CSAC) to Nerney Field House for Senior Night. The game will mark the final regular season home appearance for Walton-Moss, Walls and classmate Howard Blake III. Tip is slated for 6:30 p.m.
Cabrini will be looking to avenge an 85-70 road loss on Jan. 22. The Griffins used a 12-2 run midway through the second half to break a 59-59 tie. Cabrini held the Griffins to just three field goals over the final seven minutes, but Gwynedd Mercy connected on 10-13 from the free throw line during that span to seal the win.
Four Cavaliers scored in double figures, led by Monroe's 24 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Ace Henry hit four three pointers for 12 points off the bench.
Green added 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots, while Walls chipped in with 10 points off the bench. Walton-Moss finished with eight points, eight rebounds and 11 assists.