WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Wilkes University men's and women's basketball teams travel to the nation's capital this Saturday for their last Landmark Conference contest of the calendar year against the Catholic University Cardinals.

The men's game begins at 2 p.m. followed by the women's game at 4 p.m.

Men's: Live Stats | Live Video

Women's: Live Stats | Live Video

Men's Preview

The Colonels enter this game with a 4-2 record and 1-2 record in Landmark play after a close loss to Susquehanna on Wednesday 75-72. Much like their loss against Moravian, Wilkes had to climb out of a double-digit first half deficit. Wilkes trailed 39-25 with two minutes left in the first half and continued to trail by double-digits for much of the second half before a late run made it a 64-62 game with 4:19 to play. However, the Colonels were never able to snatch the lead and Lucas Lesko's (Northampton, PA/Northampton) corner three at the buzzer to force overtime missed.

The regular starting five of Lesko, Colin Ackerman (Manasquan, NJ/Wall Township), Jack Argento (Hershey, PA/Hershey), Daniel Santaniello (Roaring Brook Twp., PA/Scranton Prep), and Eli Becker (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) all remain double-digit scorers on average with Becker and Argento having efficient outings against the River Hawks.

The junior Becker shot a perfect 7-7 from the field for 18 points in 34 minutes of action, and the senior Argento shot 6-9 from the field for 17 points in 39 minutes of action. Meanwhile, the rest of the team combined to shoot just 30% (12-40) from the field and the entire team shot 3-17 from beyond the arc, while the River Hawks shot 10-28 from three.

The Colonels are now the fourth best scoring offense in the conference averaging 83.2 points per game, but are still second in team field goal percentage (47.2%), first in team rebounding (42.2 rebounds per game), first in assists/turnover ratio (1.60), and third in team assists (16.83 assists per game). 

They'll need a complete team performance this Saturday as the Cardinals enter this game ranked No. 18 in the country with a 6-1 record and 3-0 record in Landmark play after an 86-71 win against Juniata on Wednesday.

In that game the Cardinals and Eagles were tied 16-16 midway through the first half, then went on a 12-0 run and never looked back. CJ Ruoff led the way with 27 points and four assists on 10-13 shooting and a perfect 5-5 shooting from three, and Brian Herbert chipped in with 20 points and five rebounds on 7-9 shooting.

Ruoff ranks third in the Landmark Conference in scoring with 21.3 points per game on average, and Herbert ranks seventh in scoring 17.9 points per game. Ruoff also ranks second in the conference in assists averaging 5.1 per game.

These two alongside a supporting cast of Charlie Hepting, Jamie Ntiamoah, and others lead the Landmark's fifth ranked scoring offense (81.6 points per game), third ranked three-point shooting offense and defense, and third ranked rebounding team (41.1 rebounds per game).

Women's Preview

The Colonels enter this game with a 2-5 record and 0-3 record in Landmark play after a 72-46 loss to Susquehanna on Wednesday. Wilkes kept pace with Susquehanna for most of the game as it tied 15-15 after the first quarter and 33-30 Susquehanna midway through the third quarter, but the River Hawks went on an 11-2 run to end the third and then won the fourth quarter 28-14.

Maliyah Warren (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) and Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee) both scored in double figures in the loss. Warren finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and three blocks on 6-18 shooting, and Matos finished with 14 points and five rebounds on 5-15 shooting. 

In the Landmark both players rank in the top 10 for points per game with Warren ranking sixth with 14.3 points per game, and Matos ranking eighth with 13.3 points per game on a team that averages 55.1 points per game.

Defensively the Colonels rank fourth in opponent field goal percentage (34.1%), second in team rebounding (43.7 rebounds per game), and first in blocked shots (4.43 blocks per game).

Meanwhile, the Cardinals enter this game with a 4-2 record and 3-0 record in Landmark play after a 77-38 win against Juniata on Wednesday. The Cardinals led the Eagles 34-28 at halftime but dominated the second half outscoring the Eagles 43-10.

Anna Scoblick led Catholic in scoring with 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 4-7 shooting, followed by Carly Catania with 12 points and seven rebounds on 4-7 shooting as well.

Despite Catania being the team's leading scorer with an average of just 11.3 points per game, the Cardinals rank fourth in the conference in scoring offense averaging 69.5 points per game. The team thrives on the defensive end as the Landmark's third ranked scoring defense giving up an average of 52.5 points per game.

Catholic also ranks third in opponent three-point percentage (22.9%), third in team rebounding (43.0 rebounds per game), second in turnover margin (7.33), and second in steals (12.5).