RADNOR, Pa. (February 18) – The Cavaliers hit two free throws in the final 30 seconds of the game to hold on for a 66-63 win over visiting Eastern University this evening. The Cavaliers, clinching a play-off berth with the win, improve to 12-13, 9-7 in the PAC while the Eagles drop to 11-13, 8-7 in the conference.
Reid led the team in scoring with 22 points and eight rebounds and added three assists. Freshman
Glenn Washington tallied 19 points while sophomore
Charles Bush scored 12 points and dished out eight assists.
"I am so happy for our four seniors. They truly got what they deserved tonight," head coach Greg Herenda said. "In particular,
Randy Reid's second half performance led us to this win."
The Cavaliers were outrebounded 39-34 but committed just 14 turnovers to the Eagles’ 18. Both teams recorded nine steals.
Both teams ended with shooting percentages over 40% but struggled from three-point range, each hitting less than five shots from beyond the arc.
"Our crowd was awesome tonight. I hope our fans will travel with us to our playoff game on Saturday."
With 2:54 left in the contest, the Cavaliers built a 64-56 lead, scoring eight unanswered points in a minute and a half span, before the Eagles got within one with five straight free throws and a lay-up with 1:36 on the clock.
An Eagle foul sent Cabrini’s
Ryan Oxley to the line, he converted the first of two, and Eastern grabbed the defensive board but missed a three-point attempt and committed the quick foul. With ten seconds left, Reid missed both free throw attempts before the Eagles turned the ball over with two seconds remaining. Washington hit the first of two shots from the line to give Cabrini the three-point win.
"Qualifying for the conference play-offs was one of our goals that we set in October and its been a long road between then and now. It feels good."
In the first half, Eastern twice went in front by five points before the teams were knotted at 29, the fourth tie of the half, at the break.
Cabrini scored 10 points off the Eagles’ mistakes in the first half.
Thirty seconds into the second half, the Cavaliers jumped in front and maintained a lead for the following ten minutes of action before Eastern regained the edge (47-46) with a jumper at the 8:51 mark.
Brent Williams led the Eagles with 15 points, the only Eastern player to score in double-figures.
The Cavaliers will compete in the PAC Championships, with first-round play starting on Saturday, February 23.
