Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata men's basketball team broke out of their early season funk in a big way with an 84-64 victory over the visiting Cabrini College Cavaliers (2-5, 0-1 CSAC) in their 2015-16 home opener at Alumnae Hall.
 
The Mighty Macs (1-3, 1-0 CSAC) led by as many as 23 as they dominated the second half for their first CSAC victory of the season.
 
Senior Rodney Duncan, making his season debut, made a huge impression scoring 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.  Junior Matt Simon continued his strong shooting in the early season off the bench with another 16 point night on 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc.  Senior Ron Melton (9 rebounds), senior Tony Calamaro (7 rebounds, 2 blocks), and junior Roy Ferrell Jr. (7 rebounds, 4 assists) each scored 11 points as the Macs had a season-high five scorers in double figures.
 
For the game, IU shot a blistering 12-for-25 (48%) from beyond the arc, which is the third most three point field goals and third best percentage in a single game in team history.  The Macs also outrebounded the Cavaliers 49-40.
 
IU raced out to a 13-6 lead just five minutes into the game on eight early points from Duncan, but Cabrini responded with a 10-0 spurt over the next 1:38 to take a 16-13 advantage.  Following a triple from Simon, Cabrini would score seven of the next eight points to take a 23-17 lead with 8:45 to go in the first half in what would be their largest lead of the game.
 
IU whittled the lead down and Simon buried another three ball to tie the game at 27-27, and Calamaro followed with a lay-up to give the Macs a 29-27 lead which they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the game.  Freshman Mike Piekarski (6 points, 7 boards) capped the 10-0 run with a pair of free throws as IU led 34-27 late in the period. 
 
The Macs would close out the first half up 40-33 on the strength of seven three pointers.
 
Immaculata continued their great shooting from deep as Melton, Simon, and Ferrell Jr. hit threes on back-to-back-to-back possessions early in the second half to put the Macs in front 53-41.  Following a Cabrini bucket, Immaculata ripped off a 12-0 run that put the game out of reach for Cabrini.  Duncan hit a three, Piekarski hit a pair of buckets, while Calamaro and Simon also chipped in with points to build up the Mighty Mac lead to 65-43 with 12 minutes remaining in the game.
 
The Macs kept the Cavaliers at arms' length despite a run by Cabrini to make it a 13-point game at 74-61 with four minutes remaining.  A pair of free throws by Duncan, a lay-up by junior Michael Griffin III, and the final three of the night from Duncan made it a 20-point game again as the Macs salted away an 84-64 victory.
 
The Macs will look to make it two in a row on Saturday when they host Summit at 3 p.m.
 
NOTES: Immaculata has now won three games in a row against Cabrini … Duncan moved into fifth all-time in made three-pointers with 69, passing TJ Klinger (2009-13).