Radnor, PA (2-24-09) - Cabrini College's Charles Bush hit the game-winning jumper with 12 seconds left, as the Cavaliers outscored Keystone 11-1 over the game's final 4:00 to record the 64-62 victory in a Colonial States Athletic Association (CSAC) semi-final game.
With the victory Cabrini which moved to 20-6 on the year, advances to Friday night's CSAC title contest against Gwynedd-Mercy College. Keystone ends their campaign with a mark of 18-9.
In a game that featured seven ties and seven lead changes, it appeared the Giants may had finally shaken away the Cavaliers with 4:17 remaining in the game, when
Spencer Lunger (Lake Winola, PA/Tunkhannock) converted three of four free throws following a Cabrini personal and technical foul.
However, a Lunger free throw with1:40 left in the game was the only point Keystone would score the rest of the game as the Cavaliers completed the comeback.
Bush along with Kevin Misevicius both hit for 13 points to pace the Cavaliers, while Lamar Fisher added 12.
Kenneth Hardnett (Plant City, FL/Plant City) and
Malcolm Boone (Sugar Loaf, NY/Warwick) each recorded double-doubles on the night, with Hardnett pouring in a game high 19 points to along with 10 rebounds and Boone scoring 14 to go along with 13 rebounds.
The Giants started strong jumping out to a 10-3 lead in the early minutes of the game, before Cabrini knotted things at 12 with 12:25 left. A Lunger three put the Giants back on top to stay for the remainder of the first half, as the duo of Boone and Hardnett controlled the paint to give the Giants a 35-28 lead at the break.
Keystone would extend the lead to seven before Cabrini began to march back into the game. The Cavaliers benefited from a technical on the Giants' bench to take their first lead of the second half at 40-39 with 14:50 to play.
The two teams exchanged leads over the next few minutes with Cabrini building a five point bulge. However a
Tercel Taylor (Jackson, MI/Jackson) jumper, a Lunger three and more inside domination from Hardnett brought the Giants all the way back to take a 55-53 lead, a lead they would extend to eight before Cabrini closed out the game with their winning run.
The Giants had three shots at a potential game winner or tying shot in the final 10 seconds, but a missed lay-up, off the mark three and block at the buzzer kept the Giants out of the scoring column,
Keystone's performance from the free throw line did not help their cause as they missed eight shots in a 16-24 effort, however Cabrini didn't fare much better with a 14-23 outing.
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