RADNOR, Pa. – The Cavaliers erased the taste of back to back losses with tonight's dominant 99-71 victory over the visiting Cairn University Highlanders. With the win, Cabrini improved to 9-8 overall and 7-4 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.
Today's action also marked the program's annual Alumni Day. Following the men's game against Cairn, the alums took center stage for an exciting back and forth battle, that came down to the final possession.
Six Cavaliers scored double figures in the win, led by sophomore
Jair Green. The sophomore shot 10-12 from the floor en route to a 22 point, six rebounds, three assist performance. Classmate
Tyheim Monroe notched his Division III leading 17th double-double of the season, pairing 16 points, 12 rebounds and three steals on the night.
Sophomore
Deryl Bagwell added 12 points, seven boards and three assists off the bench, while classmate
Joe Mostardi posted 11 points, including 3-4 from three point range, in just eight minutes on the floor.
Senior
Ace Henry matched Mostardi's three triples in his 11 point night, while freshman
Ivan Robinson scored 10 points to go with four assists and two steals.
The Cavaliers' 39 made field goals are the most this season, while their 99 points, .500 field goal percentage, 51 rebounds 22 assists and nine steals ranked among the team's season highs.
Cabrini jumped to an early lead, as Bagwell's lay-up capped a 15-2 spurt, giving the Blue and White a 15-5 lead just over five minutes into the action. Minutes later, Green's offensive rebound and putback sent the Blue and White on a 10-0 run to extend its cushion to 25-8.
The Cavaliers pushed its lead to 48-24 at the break after closing the opening stanza on a 13-3 run.
Cabrini built its lead on the strength on nearly 49% shooting from the field, a 28-18 rebound edge and just three turnovers in the first half.
The Blue and White did not allow the halftime break to slow its momentum, as junior
Ryan Charity's lay-up capped a 13-0 spurt that gave Cabrini its largest lead of the day at 78-41 midway through the second half.
The Cavaliers dominated the painted area of the floor in today's win, outscoring the Highlanders 48-24 in the paint. Cabrini also owned the glass, outrebounding Cairn 51-38 and converted 19 offensive boards into 19 points.
Freshman Julian Collazo led Cairn (7-11, 3-8 CSAC) with 19 points and eight rebounds. Fellow rookie Josh VIna added 13 points off the bench, while junior Gerroid Doughty scored 11.
The Blue and White will hit the road on Monday, as it travels to Clarks Summit, Pa. to face Summit University (2-16, 2-9 CSAC) in a game that originally slated for Jan. 23. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.