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ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – Records and rankings typically don't matter in rivalry games and tonight's “Battle of Eagle Road” was no different.  The #7 Cabrini College men's basketball team got a yeoman's effort from its All-American en route to an 82-76 win over a very good Eastern University team. 

The win improves Cabrini to 19-1 on the year.

Senior Cory Lemons led all scorers with 27 points on 12-21 shooting from the floor.  Three other Cavaliers recorded double-figure scoring including A.J. Williams with 13, John Boyd with 12 and Aaron Walton-Moss with 10 off the bench.

The Blue and White jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on the strength of buckets by Lemons and Boyd.   The game remained tight throughout most of the first half, though Cabrini never trailed. 

The Eagles cut Cabrini's lead to 17-16 with 7:41 on the clock, but the Cavaliers turned up their defensive pressure and literally ran to a 9-0 spurt, led by Lemons' five points. 

Eastern continued to chip away at the lead but a Walton-Moss jumper with :04 before the break sent the Cavaliers to the locker room with a 38-32 lead.

The Blue and White shot 48.6% from the floor in the first half and maintained a +8 advantage in rebounding, including six offensive boards.

The Eagles fed off their crowd's energy as the second stanza opened, scoring nine of the first 11 points of the half. Senior Collin Whipple's jumper with 17:41 gave Eastern a 41-40 lead, their only advantage of the night.

The Cavaliers responded with back-to-back Lemons' jumpers in the paint to retake the lead and extend it to 44-41.  Minutes later it was Williams' turn. 

A Jeremy Knowles rebound sent Cabrini off to the races. As Williams took off for the lay-up, he was tackled by an Eastern player.  An intentional foul was called sending Williams to the line and returning the ball to the Cavaliers.

After the junior calmly knocked down the free throws, he corralled an offensive rebound on the ensuing possession.  His put back gave the Cavaliers a 54-45 lead with 13:30 on the clock.

Eastern continued to try and chip away at Cabrini's lead but each time they hit a bucket, the Blue and White responded.   The Eagles never got closer than four points in the game's final 11 minutes.

With 4:33 and Cabrini up 69-61, Lemons again took over the offense.  The senior scored buckets on four consecutive possessions, leaving the Eagles down 75-68 with less than two minutes on the clock.

The Cavaliers sealed the game from the free throw line, connecting on seven of their final 10 attempts, including 3-4 from Williams and Boyd.

Moss recorded a game-high nine rebounds in the win, while Rafferty garnered six.  Knowles finished the contest with six points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals.

Senior Collin Whipple led five Eastern (13-6) players in double-figures with 22 points, including 10-13 from the free throw line, and eight boards.

The Cavaliers will return to the comfy confines of Nerney Field House on Wednesday when they look for consecutive CSAC home win number 42 when Rosemont College pays a visit.  The game is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:00 p.m. following the ladies game.