For eight consecutive seasons the Cabrini men’s basketball team defeated the Eastern University Eagles in the Battle for Eagle Road. The Blue and White took down the Eagles 91-86 on Monday, Nov 17.
The Cavaliers were lead by preseason first team All-American senior Aaron Walton-Moss, who was honored before tip-off for winning the NABC division three player of the year award in 2013-2014. Walton-Moss stuffed the stat sheet tallying his first triple double of the year with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
The young Cavaliers received help from all over. Freshmen Jair Green, Ivan Robinson and Tyheim Monroe all chipped each scoring double figures on the night. Green put in 20 points while grabbing eight rebounds. While Robinson added 12 points and Monroe put in 15 points, seven rebounds and three dimes.
“I was excited and nervous a little bit,” freshman forward Jair Green said. “I think I did good individually, but as a team we have to sit down and defend as a unit,” Green said.
“I was really excited about my first game just to play in front of our home crowd,” freshman forward Tyheim Monroe said. “I think as a team we bounced back good after our first game against Wooster and I played okay, but there is still room for improving,” Monroe said.
The win over the Eastern Eagles was the first for new Head Coach Tim McDonald.
“I was very impressed with how our team was able to bounce back after a difficult weekend. We got to play in a great atmosphere here last night with tremendous support from our student body and campus community,” Head Coach Tim McDonald said. “Getting my first career win on our home court against our rival was great and will be one I’ll remember forever,” McDonald said.
Throughout a tough fought first half where the Cavs and Eagles traded buckets back and fourth, the Cavaliers seemed to take control at the 4:12 mark after Walton-Moss drained a three point basket to put the Cavaliers up 11. The three sparked a 9-0 run that would put the Cavaliers up 17 at 2:02 min mark of the first half.
The Eastern Eagles sparked a quick run of their own going on a 7-2 run to bring the score to 12 going into the half.
Junior Malcom Garrison who put in 25 points and grabbed four rebounds for the team led the Eagles. Also for the Eagles sophomore Tarek Hamzeh put in 17 points, while sophomore Austin Carroll and freshman Austin James both poured in 13 points.
The second half proved to be just as close as the first with the Cavaliers and Eagles trading runs back and fourth. The Blue and White pushed the lead to 16 at the 17:05 min mark off of two free throws hit by senior guard Vinny Walls, who put up 13 points.
The Eagles fought back and would bring the Cavaliers to four points with eight seconds left in the game. This would be the closest the Eagles come to the Cavaliers lead.
“I think the outlook for the team looks great-we’re young and real athletic and we’re building chemistry, which will make us real hard to stop,” Monroe said.
The Blue and White will be back in action on Saturday Nov. 22 and Sunday Nov 23, in the Hoopsville National Invitational Classic in Owings Mills, MD. at Stevenson University. The cavaliers will face SUNY-Purchase (0-2) on Saturday, tip-off is set for 4 p.m. On Sunday the Cavaliers will take on No.12 Worcester Polytechnic Institute (1-0), tip off is set for 3 p.m.
@Jason_Lwilliams
