RADNOR, PA – Senior
Keith Blassingale made the most of his Senior Day game, as the senior scored points number 41, 42 and 43 with just 1.6 seconds to play, handing the Cavaliers a 97-94 win over Immaculata.
With the win, the Blue and White secured the number four seed in next week's Atlantic East Conference Tournament. In a strange twist, the Cavaliers will host number five seed Immaculata again in Tuesday's first round.
Blassingale connected on 15-22 from the floor, including 7-10 from three point range, and handed out five assists en route to his season high scoring output.
Sophomore
Voshon Mack paired 19 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Junior
Billy Warren anchored the defensive effort with a career high five blocked shots.
The Cavaliers maintained a slim lead through much of the opening 20 minute period, extending their cushion to 29-19 on a jumper by junior
DJ Smith at the 7:52 mark.
The Mighty Macs turned the tables in the second half, opening the stanza on a 13-3 run to build a 52-46 lead less than three minutes into the half. The visitors seemed to have found their mojo, shooting north of .600 from the field in the second half.
Trailing 82-72 with 6:57 to play, the Cavaliers began to make their move.
Cabrini slowly chipped away at its deficit over the next two-plus minutes before sophomore
Ryan Byars found his way to the hoop for a lay-in to give Cabrini an 86-85 lead with 4:16 to play.
Both teams exchanged buckets over the next few possessions, but trailing 91-90 with just over a minute to play, junior
Billy Warren drove through the center of the lane to put the Blue and White ahead for good.
A Cabrini foul sent the Mighty Macs to the line, where they split a pair of free throws to even the score.
Mack's offensive board and put back gave Cabrini a two point lead with 39 seconds to play, but Immaculata's Jordan Ambrose's jumper evened the score again with 23 seconds to play.
The Cavaliers drained the clock down to six seconds, ensuring that they would have the opportunity for the game's final shot.
Following a Cabrini time out, Blassingale dribbled the ball from the right corner and drained a stepback triple from the right wing with 1.6 seconds to play.
The Mighty Macs called a timeout to organize a final three point attempt, but it was not to be.
Both teams shot over .600 from the field in a second half that saw four ties and eight lead changes. The clubs combined to shoot 13-18 from three point range and 18-25 from the free throw line with just 10 combined turnovers.
Brandon McCullough led Immaculata (9-16, 4-8 Atlantic East) with 26 points, while Ambrose added 21. Tyson Tillery paired 19 points and 17 rebounds in the loss.
Prior to today's tip, the Cavaliers honored Blassingale and classmate
Jarren Abad. The pair have led the Cavaliers to 59 victories including the 2018 Colonial States Athletic conference championship.
In their 98 games in the blue and white, the seniors have amassed 1,175 points, 277 rebounds, 164 assists and 97 steals.
Blassingale was also recognized for becoming the 21st player in program history to record 1,000 career points. The senior accomplished the feat with a 21 point performance against Marywood on Feb. 12.