RADNOR, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Basketball dropped an 81-66 decision at Cabrini University in the season-opener for both teams. The two neighboring schools compete annually for the Eagle Rd. Trophy, and much of the Eastern student body ventured across the street to see if their squad could repeat the buzzer-beating heroics of last year. The visiting Eagles made a late push to close the gap to six, but the Cavaliers scored on their final seven possessions to pull away late.
Cabrini held a close lead for most of the first half, but it was a 10-2 run late that put the Eagles down 11 heading into the final possession of the half.
Austin Carroll scored a lay-up in traffic cut the deficit to 37-28 going into the break. Eastern shot only 32 percent in the first half and had 12 turnovers. The Cavaliers did not shoot too much better, but they had ten more attempts from the floor.
Shaquan Turk had nine points to lead all Eastern scorers at half. Tyheim Monroe led all scorers with 14 points.
The Cavaliers scored the first two baskets of the second half. Turk then started a 10-0 run with a lay-up. Carroll energized the crowd with a deep 3-pointer. Turk split a pair at the line and then brought the Eastern crowd to its feet with a steal and a dunk in transition. The Cabrini's Ryan Charity ended the run with a three-point play.
Eagles cut the deficit to three on two more occasions early in the second half. Each time the Cavaliers had an answer. With five minutes to play it looked like the Eagles had one more push for late-game heroics. Victor Peña made consecutive baskets and
Austin James converted after a Carroll steal to cut the deficit to 67-6. the Eagles had two good looks from deep to cut the lead to three, but both shots went in-and-out and the Cavaliers corralled the rebound.
Cabrini scored points on the final seven possessions to secure the final margin.
Turk finished with a team-high 25 points and nine rebounds.
Abraham Kurnick added 11 points, and Peña finished with 10 points. Monroe led all scorers with 26 points on 11-of-27 shooting.
Cabrini will hold the trophy until next year. The date of the game at Eastern is yet to be announced.
The Eagles will host the Neumann University Knights at 3 PM on Saturday.
