RADNOR, PA - After trailing by 16 points early in the second half, the Cabrini men's basketball pulled to within three points with just 68 seconds to play before succumbing to the University of Scranton 93-86 today at Nerney Field House.

Senior Keith Blassingale made the most of his return to the Cabrini hardwood, pouring in 38 points in the Blue and White's home debut. The senior's offensive output marks the most points scored by a Cavalier since Aaron Walton-Moss tallied 40 points in a 98-91 win over Randolph-Macon on Dec. 18, 2013. 

Junior DJ Smith added 15 points, while sophomore Ryan Byars and junior Justin Gans added nine points each.

Despite shooting just .300 from the floor in the first half, the Cavaliers never allowed the Royals to pull away. Scranton led by as many as 13 points in the first half and carried a 47-35 cushion in the halftime break.

The Blue and White struggled to contain a Scranton squad that outscored it 20-6 in the pair and outrebounded the Blue and White 26-16 in the first half.

Scranton scored the first two buckets of the second half, extending its lead to a game-high 51-35 at the 18:12 mark. Cabrini responded with a 9-0 run, as Smith's three pointer cut the deficit to 51-44.

Minutes later, the Royals pushed their lead back to 10 but another 9-0 run re-energized the Blue and White, as freshman Malik Bailey's three point play pulled the Cavaliers to within 57-56 with 11:56 to play.

Scranton answered with a triple on the ensuing possession, a bucket that sparked a 13-0 run, extending the visitor's lead to 70-56 with just under nine minutes to play.

Playing in front on friendly crowd for the first time this season, the Cavaliers would not go away. Blassingale drained threes on three of four possessions late in the game to pull Cabrini to 83-80 with 2:32 left.

Scranton's next two possessions resulted in Cabrini fouls, as the Royals drained three of four free throws, extending their lead back to 86-80 with just 75 seconds on the clock.

Smith hit his fifth three of the day on Cabrini's next trip, but the Cavaliers would come no closer, as Scranton connected on 5-6 from the charity stripe in the game's final 40 seconds to seal the victory.

The Blue and White found its offensive rhythm in the second half, shooting .474 from the field, including 9-19 from three point range.  

After struggling to contain the paint in the first half, Cabrini solidified their interior defense after the break. The Cavaliers were just -1 in rebounds and -2 in points in the paint, while recording 14 second chance pints to just five for Scranton.

Senior Jarren Abad and junior Brice Parks led Cabrini with five rebounds each, while Abad and Bailey blocked two shots each.

Scranton (4-1) got 77 of its points from the trio of senior Matthew Mancuso and sophomores Logan Bailey and Jackson Danzig. Mancuseo finished with a monster double-double with 38 points and 22 rebounds, while Bailey and Danzig added 20 and 19 points, respectively.

The Cavaliers will have some time to reflect on tonight's results, as they will not return to game action until Dec. 3, when they travel to Lancaster Bible College (1-3). Game time is slated for 7pm.