The Cabrini College men’s basketball team kicked off their 2011-2012 season with a 77-65 come-from-behind win over the Haverford College Fords on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the Nerney Field House.
The opening night victory marked the 29th consecutive win for the Cavaliers at home. Senior guard Cory Lemons led the way with 27 points, 10 rebounds and a game-high four steals. Lemons scored 19 of his points in the first half, keeping Cabrini from falling further behind.
Haverford’s Cam Baker led the Fords in scoring with 24 points.
The Fords went into halftime with a 38-32 lead. After the break, Haverford continued to press and had a 49-40 lead with a little under 15 minutes to play in the second half.
That lead didn’t stand much longer, as the resilient Cavaliers were not to be denied a victory on their home floor. Key buckets by junior guard Jeremy Knowles and sophomore forward Fran Rafferty gave Cabrini a 58-55 advantage in the game’s second half, a lead they would not relinquish.
Rafferty had 16 points on the night and Knowles chipped in 10. Sophomore center Jon Miller picked up eight rebounds and junior center Goran Dulac scored eight points in 28 minutes of action.
Cabrini kept the lead in check by going 8-8 from the free throw line in the final few minutes as well as answering any sort of run Haverford tried to make.
Cabrini’s next game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 against Widener University at Neumann University’s Mirenda Center at 2:15 p.m.