RADNOR, Pa. –
Chris LaBelle,
Harrison Lucibello and
Billy Veras all scored 20 or more points but it was not enough as the Centenary University men's basketball team fell to Cabrini University by a 96-90 in Atlantic East action on Wednesday night.
The game was a back-and-forth affair that featured 10 ties and 15 lead changes.
Centenary jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead as Veras connected on a jumper at 18:09.
The two teams battled on both ends of the court as a triple from
Trevor Giordano and a jumper from LaBelle gave Centenary a 17-16 edge with 12:53 to go until the half.
Cabrini scored the next seven points in the game and took a 23-17 lead with 11:42 showing on the clock.
Centenary scored eight of the next 10 points and tied the game at 25-25 at the 7:38 mark. LaBelle and Lucibello each had three points in that stretch.
The Cyclones and Cavaliers traded points as a
Ryan Byars' lay-up at 2:49 put Cabrini on top, 39-30.
Centenary closed the half on an 8-0 run and pulled to within one, 39-38 at the break. Veras had five points during that stretch.
The Cyclones opened the second half on a 6-3 run and took a 44-41 lead with 17:44 to go in the game. LaBelle had three points in that stretch.
A lay-up from Lucibello and a free throw from LaBelle put the visitors on top, 52-49 at the 15:07 mark.
The two teams continued to go blow for blow on each end of the court, a pair of free throws from LaBelle at 11:09 gave the Cyclones a 60-59 edge.
Lay-ups from LaBelle and
Isaac Poueriet extended the Centenary advantage to 66-61 with 7:25 to play in the game.
Another lay-up from LaBelle put the visitors ahead 68-65 at the 5:20 mark.
An
Aquil Stewart triple at 3:59 put Cabrini on top, 72-69.
That triple started a 10-5 run that gave the home team a 79-74 lead with 2:08 to go.
Cabrini went 13-for-20 from the foul line in the final two minutes to hold off the Cyclones and claim the 96-90 win.
Centenary shot 44% from the field and was 18-for-31 from the foul line. Cabrini shot 47.2% from the field and was 23-for-35 from the foul line. The Cyclones held a 47-46 edge in the rebounding battle.
LaBelle led the Cyclones with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. Veras contributed 22 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the year. Veras' 18 boards are tied for fifth most in single-game history at Centenary. Lucibello finished strong with 21 points and six rebounds.
Byars led Cabrini with 35 points and 15 rebounds.
Centenary is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 19 when it hosts Immaculata to close out the regular season at 3 p.m. The Cyclones will honor seniors
Mike Strazza,
Bryce Falk,
Emmanuel Osei and LaBelle prior to the game.
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