Cabrini’s men’s basketball team started off hot against Cairn University and even though things started tightening up during the second half, the Cavaliers were able to finish strong.
With the 84-67 victory on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Nerney Field House, Cabrini improved to 17-5 on the season with a conference record of 13-2. They are now entrenched in the second seed in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC), only behind Neumann University. The Cairn Highlanders on the other hand are now 5-17 overall with a conference record of 3-12, which leaves them as the ninth seed in the standings.
Starting junior forward, Tyheim Monroe tied his previous record of 20 rebounds, something he has now done seven times. He recorded his double double before the end of the first half and finished the game with 20 points.
Before the game Monroe said, “This game holds meaning since we are starting to get in a pace we need this one. Finishing playing strong is key to this game and also to keep the defense intensity up at all times. To get myself ready prior to the game starting I listened to an artist by the name of Kur.”
Coach Tim McDonald along side his staff had a lot of preparation to be ready for the rematch against Cairn University.
“Our mindset going into the game was to keep the hard work up and since we are down a point guard. We are in the process of getting Deryl Bagwell adjusted to the point guard position,” McDonald said. “Going into the next game we need to continue to help ease Deryl into being a point guard since it’s a new position for him and also to make smarter decisions with the ball on the offensive end. Coming into the second half they started to come back, but we just needed continue to come out with energy and preventing Cairn from spreading the ball around.”
Barring the second half comeback attempt from the Highlanders, the Cavaliers played intense on defense, holding Cairn to 37% shooting on the game. Junior forward Devahnte Mosley had a double double in his own right, with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Bagwell flirted with one with his 16 point, nine rebound, four steal, one block performance. Monroe led the team with five assists on the game. The Cavaliers counted on the three point shot and it worked, as they shot 65% on the night. Sophomore guard Zachary Bolton had a game-high 30 points for the Cairn Highlanders.
The new adjusting point guard Deryl Bagwell said, “My mindset going into this game was to bounce back because when we played them before on their home court they startled us, but before we got out to the basketball court it was all good vibes in the locker room so that gave me confidence everyone including myself would be ready. We are going to continue to work hard but the main thing the team is always focusing on is to stay focused.”
Cabrini will now go on to play Clarks Summit University, who sits in last place of the CSAC conference with an overall record of 1-21 and 0-15 in conference play. The game will take place Saturday 3 p.m., Feb. 11, at Clarks Summit.
“For us to come out and play like this it shows you the hard work we put in. Now it’s our job to continue to stay focused,” Bagwell said.
