RADNOR, PA – The Cabrini men's basketball team secured its spot in the Colonial States Athletic Conference championship game with tonight's 91-72 victory over Rosemont in the tonight's semifinal round match-up.
The Cavaliers will host Neumann University in Saturday's title game, marking the fourth time the two teams have met in the championship game and the first since 2015.
Cabrini improved to 23-3 on the year with its ninth consecutive victory.
Six Cavaliers scored north of eight points. Senior Tyheim Monroe scored a game-high 22 points to go with seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Classmate Deryl Bagwell added 19 points, seven boards, four assists and three steals.
The game could not have started any worse for Cabrini, as it missed its first eight field goal attempts, as Rosemont ran out to a 12-0 lead. Head coach Tim McDonald burned his second time out before junior Anthony Wright-Downing put the Cavaliers on the board with an offensive rebound and putback at the 14:19 mark.
Trailing 21-8 with 11:36 left in the opening half, the Cavaliers began their comeback.
A steal by junior Mike Doyle and Monroe fast break bucket sparked a 16-0 run over the next four minutes. During that span, Cabrini forced seven turnovers and allowed Rosemont to attempt just three field goals.
Doyle's lay-up gave the Cavaliers a 22-20 lead, one the Cavaliers would not relinquish.
Cabrini closed the half with another defensive stand, as it held the Ravens scoreless over the final 2:29 of the half.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers scored the final seven points of the half, as freshman Trey Smith's three pointer at the buzzer sent the Blue and White into the break with a 38-29 lead.
While both teams shot in the low 40's from the field, the Cavaliers took control of the game after converting 11 first half Rosemont turnovers into 15 points, including 12 fast break points.
Cabrini never allowed the Ravens to find any rhythm in the second half, as the lead swelled as high as 24 points.
The Cavaliers shot a steamy .600 from the field in the second half and scored 36 of its 53 second half points in the paint and 14 on fast breaks.
The Blue and White secured just 35 rebounds in the win, but recorded 24 assists on its 35 made field goals and posted 13 steals
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Wright-Downing finished with 12 points and six rebounds, while Smith added nine points and five dimes. Doyle and sophomore Keith Blassingale posted eight points each and combined for five steals.
Junior Jalil Myers led the Ravens (17-10) with 15 points and 15 boards, while senior Charles Presley matched his 15 points.
Neumann, the tournament's third seed, advanced to Saturday's championship game after topping number two seed Gwynedd Mercy 102-85.
Trailing 45-40 at the half, the Knights (20-7) opened the second half with an 18-4 run to take control of the action. The Griffins (20-6) pulled within 69-66 with 9:25 to play, but Neumann responded with an 8-0 run and never looked back.
Three Knights recorded at least 23 points in the win, with Tyaire Hudson and Aaron Johnson-Chavis scoring 25 each, while Jordan Collins added 23. Hudson added 11 assists, while Collins grabbed 12 boards.
Saturday will mark the third time the Cavaliers and Knights have met, with each winning on its home floor. The Cavaliers scored a 105-76 victory on Jan. 17, while the Knights returned the favor five days later, earning a 92-83 victory.