Radnor, PA (Mar. 5, 2011) – Purchase could taste the “Sweet 16,” holding a comfortable lead early against host Cabrini College in the second round of the NCAA DIII Tournament Saturday night, before the Cavaliers erased a double-digit deficit in the second half for a shocking 91-84 victory.

The Cabrini men's basketball team is returning to the “Sweet 16” for the second time in program history following Saturday's win at the Nerney Field House. The Cavaliers overcame a 13-point halftime deficit en route to their 28th consecutive home victory.

Point guard Cory Lemons led all scorers with 29 points, including 20 in the second half, on 9-for-17 shooting overall. Lemons also mixed in nine rebounds and seven assists while shooting 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Cabrini forward Dom Farrello paired 18 points with 13 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season and the eighth of his college career. John Boyd and Fran Rafferty also reached double figures, scoring 16 (all in the second half) and 10 points (all in the first half), respectively.

The Cavaliers kick-started the rally with a 16-3 run out of the gates in the early minutes of the second period. Cabrini took its first lead of the game, 66-64, with 7:24 remaining. Cabrini pushed its lead to six points, 74-68, at the 5:20 mark.

However, Purchase cut the Blue & White advantage to one possession on three occasions in the final two minutes. Yet, the Cavaliers shot 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final 1:35 to seal the victory.

Tri-captain Marvin Billups* (SR/Chester, NY) led the Panthers with 24 points, shooting 8 of 15 from the floor. Michael McNair (SR/Valley Cottage, NY) added 16 points. Purchase sorely missed tri-captain Corey Orgias* (SR/Highland Mills, NY), who sat out much of the game nursing a hamstring injury. The Panthers also struggled from the free-throw line in the second half, which didn't help their cause in the closing 20 minutes.

After winning its first-ever tournament game yesterday, Purchase's season ends in the second round of the tourney. The Panthers complete the 2010-11 campaign with an overall record of 24-5 – the greatest single-season mark in program history.

Cabrini (24-5) next meets North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) opponent the College of Wooster (OH). Date and location are to be determined.