CUA’s Shooting, Depth, Defense Key 70-46 Trouncing of Drew

CUA’s Shooting, Depth, Defense Key 70-46 Trouncing of Drew

2/12/10

MADISON, N.J.-- Catholic University combined superior talent and depth with deadeye marksmanship and sticky defense in a 70-46 rout of Drew University at Baldwin Gymnasium on Friday night.

R.J. Dixon led the victors with 20 points on 8 of 12 shooting and 4 of 7 from 3-point land. Matt Fazzini had 12 points off the bench and Jason Banzhaf added 10 for the Cardinals, who iced the contest with a backbreaking 29-7 run to open the second half.

CUA improves to 16-5 and 8-2 in the Landmark Conference.

Mike Mayes led Drew (7-16, 3-9) with 20 points and five rebounds. Terrell Brown scored 13 points, but he and Mayes combined for 11 of the Rangers’ 19 turnovers.

Shawn Holmes, one of two freshmen in the Cards’ starting lineup, used his quickness to score six points and collect a career-high six steals. CUA made 54.7 percent of its field goals and held Drew to 37.2 percent shooting. The Rangers hit just 6 of 19 shots in the second half, while the Cardinals were 17 of 26.

Trailing 11-6, the Cards scored the next 11 points in the midst of a 22-6 outburst to lead 28-17 with 3:55 left in the first half. Banzhaf had six during the run and Dixon punctuated it with a 3-pointer. The Cardinals held the Rangers scoreless for more than five-and-a-half minutes.

Mayes scored 11 straight points, nine after CUA’s run, to bring Drew to within two. The Cardinals led 29-26 at the half.

Dixon and CUA emerged from the locker room on fire. Dixon nailed three consecutive treys, Holmes made a fastbreak layup and Fazzini hit two triples to give the Cardinals a 23-point lead. Chris Kearney sank two free throws and Fazzini had a layup in transition as CUA built a 58-33 advantage with 9:42 to go.

Kearney (eight points, eight boards) is the Cards’ other rookie starter and Fazzini (5-for-6 shooting) is the lone senior.

The Cardinals play at the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Mariners (19-4, 10-2) are in first place in the Landmark and CUA occupies second.