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DANVILLE, Ky. – Not even the 12-day holiday layoff could slow the Cabrini College men's basketball team tonight, as the Cavaliers improved to 9-0 on the year with a 80-60 win over Johns Hopkins University in the opening round of the Papa John's/ Country Hearth Inn Tournament at Centre College.
One might expect the #10 Cavaliers to show some rust after such a break, but that was not the case tonight.
Junior guard
A.J. Williams opened the scoring with a three-pointer 30 seconds into the game and Cabrini never looked back. The Blue and White established a 14 point advantage before the Blue Jays notched the scoring column.
Cabrini took a 42-25 advantage in the halftime break after pushing their advantage as high as 21 points in the first half. The Cavaliers connected on 19 of their 33 field goal attempts before the break, including 4-9 from beyond the three-point arc.
Conversely, Cabrini held Johns Hopkins to just nine made field goals before the break and 33.3% shooting.
The Blue and White again extended its advantage to 21 points less than two minutes into the second half after senior
John Boyd connected on five consecutive free throws.
Cabrini's lead hovered between 14 and 18 points through most of the second half. The Blue Jays cut the lead to 11 twice late in the game, but could get no closer.
The Cavaliers shot just 37.5% from the floor and 0-8 from beyond the three-point arc, but connected on 14 of their 17 second half free throw attempts. Cabrini also held JHU to 31.4% shooting and 3-10 from deep.
Preseason All-American senior
Cory Lemons led the Cavaliers with 18 points and seven assists. Junior reserve
Jeremy Knowles narrowly missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Williams and sophomore
Fran Rafferty added nine points each, while junior forward
Goran Dulac led Cabrini with 10 rebounds.
Reserves Alex Pandragi and Jimmy Hammer led the Blue Jays with 16 points each.
With the win, the Cavaliers advance to Friday's championship game where they will face the host Centre College (7-3) at 7:00 p.m. Centre defeated Berry College (0-10) 69-54 in tonight's second game.
Berry and Johns Hopkins will meet in the tournament's consolation game at 5:00 p.m.
