SALISBURY, MD – The Cavaliers erased a 10 point second half deficit but could not get over the hump, as the Cabrini men's basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2016-17 season with today's 67-64 loss to Johns Hopkins University in the first round of the Salisbury University Optimist Tournament.

The Blue and White fell to 1-1 on the young season and will face the loser of the tournament's second game between the host Seagulls and College of Staten Island.  Tip for tomorrow's consolation game is slated for 2pm.

Junior Tyheim Monroe led Cabrini with 18 points and 11 rebounds, marking his 29th consecutive double-double.  Sophomore Ivan Robinson added 13 points, while junior Deryl Bagwell and sophomore Joe Mostardi added 10 points each.

Cabrini struggled in the opening 20 minutes of play, shooting just 36.7% from the field, including 1-6 from three point range. The Blue Jays took full advantage, hitting 15-33 from the floor and four three pointers to build a 37-29 lead at the half.

Trailing 43-33 with 17 minutes to play, the Cavaliers began their comeback.  Over the next five minutes, the Blue and White went on a 15-5 spurt, as senior Ryan Charity's lay-up evened the score at 48 with 11:44 to play.

Johns Hopkins responded with four quick points before Monroe again evened the score at 52 three minutes later.

It would be the last tie of the evening, as the Blue Jays rebuilt their four point cushion.

Cabrini pulled within two points three times before Johns Hopkins triple pushed its lead to 67-60 with just over three minutes on the clock.

A Mostardi steal was followed by a pair of Robinson free throws to cut the Blue and White deficit to 67-62.  Hopkins missed the front end of a one-and-one, allowing Cabrini to pull within 67-64 after a Monroe lay-up.

The Cavaliers had their chances in the game's final 80 seconds, as its defense held the Blue Jays without a field goal attempt, but the Blue and White could not find its range on the offensive side of the floor, missing each of its three field goal attempts and a pair of free throws in the game's final seconds.

Five Blue Jays (1-1) scored in double figures, led by Kyle Doran's 15 points.   Sam Gordon posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards, while Ryan Curran added 13 points.