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Salem

About the 2001 Division III
men's basketball tournament

Kings Point 106, Cabrini 96
RADNOR, Pa. — The United States Merchant Marine Academy men's basketball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the history of the Academy after defeating the Cavaliers of Cabrini College, 106-96. The Mariners' elusive first NCAA win on the hardwood has been 55 years in the making.

The Mariners (21-7) sprinted out of the gate, taking a 16-8 advantage five minutes into the game. The Cavaliers battled back, holding the lead for the last ten minutes of the first half, before a buzzer-beating jumper by Kevin Bernick propelled the Blue and Gray to a 45-44 lead as the halftime horn sounded.

In the second half, Kings Point increased the pressure on both ends of the floor, forcing Cabrini (21-7) into poor decision-making that enabled the Mariners to practice their free throws at length. Kings Point made 64 trips to the charity stripe and found the botom of the net on 42 of them.

Leading the way for the Blue and Gray was senior standout Johnny Garrett, who fueled the offensive engine by pouring in a season-high 32 points and a game-high eight assists. Garrett received most of his work at the free-throw line where he was 17-for-23. Kings Point had four other players score in double figures as junior Nate Barton supplied the Mariners with 16 points, junior Kevin Bernick added 15, freshman Fred Slanovec chipped in 12, and freshman Gabe Whitney scored 11. Slanovec led the Blue and Gray's rebounding effort, grabbing seven boards.

Four of Cabrini's five starters fouled out, while the fifth suffered a foot injury midway through the second half and did not return.

The Cavaliers were whistled for four technical fouls and an intentional foul in the second half, to go along with 22 personals. Their 27 second-half fouls was greater than any of their pervious 27 game totals. Kings Point incurred 10 fouls of its own in the second half, as the teams combined for 68 infractions.

The Mariners shot 50% from the field for the game, connecting on 28 of their 56 attempts, including 8-for-17 from beyond the arc to go along with the 42-for-64 free-throw shooting. Cabrini hit 53.6 of its field-goal attempts (37-for-69), while shooting 16-for-28 from the charity stripe.

Cabrini had four players score double digits, led by sophomore Kris Pittman's 23. Sophomore forward Brian Wood added 11 points for the Cavaliers and a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Mariners will be in action next on March 3 at 7:30 pm against Wilkes. Wilkes is the number one seed in the region and will enter Saturday's affair sporting a 23-2 overall record. With the win, the Mariners improve to 21-7 on the year.

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