BETHLEHEM, PA – The Cavaliers erased a six point lead in the final three minutes and evened the score with 17 ticks remaining, but a buzzer beating jumper sent the Cabrini men's basketball team to its second consecutive one possession loss, as the Blue and White fell to Moravian 80-78.
The Cavaliers led 57-48 after a three pointer by junior
Christian Lane with 13:34 to play, when the Greyhounds turned the tide. Over the next 7:43, the home team used a 19-6 run to take a 67-63 lead with just under six minutes to play.
Cabrini's deficit grew to six points at the 3:03 mark, but the Cavaliers would not away. Senior
Ryan Byars drained a three then hit a lay-up to pull Cabrini to within 73-72 with 93 seconds to play.
Moravian's lead grew back to four points with 52 seconds left, but Lane found sophomore
Josh Jones for a lay-in to cut the deficit in half with 42 seconds on the clock. A pair of Blue and White fouls sent the Greyhounds to the free throw line, but the home side missed two of its three chances, keeping Cabrini's hopes alive.
With just 17 seconds to play, Byars found Lane for the junior's fifth triple of the game, leveling the score with 17 seconds left on the clock.
Following a Moravian timeout, the Greyhounds drew up a successful set that culminated with Alex Dietz's game-winning jumper.
Four Cavaliers scored in double figures on the night, with Byars and Lane leading the way with 18 points each, season highs for both players. Lane paired a career best five made three pointers with five assists, while Byars corralled seven rebounds in just 20 minutes of action.
Jones paired 14 points with a game-high nine rebounds off the bench, while sophomore
Aquil Stewart scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half.
Cabrini led by as many as 12 points a first half that saw the visitors shoot .484 from the field. The Cavaliers got 15 points from their bench and outscored the Greyhounds 26-12 in the paint in the first half en route to a 39-34 halftime lead.
Moravian turned the tables in the second half, connecting on north of .570 of its field goal attempts and hitting 10-13 from the charity stripe as it outscored Cabrini 46-39 in the second period.
Nate Dougherty scored 17 points to lead six Greyhounds with at least eight points on the night.
The Cavaliers will look to snap their two game skid on Monday when they play host to Rowan University. Tip is slated for 7pm in Nerney Field House.