WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a rematch of the 2024 Landmark Conference Semifinals, the Wilkes University men's basketball team traveled to Catholic University on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Cardinals 91-79 at Franny Murray Court.

Wilkes falls to 4-3 overall with the loss and 1-3 in Landmark play, while Catholic improves to 7-1 and remains a perfect 4-0 in conference play.

After Catholic opened the scoring, a Daniel Santaniello (Roaring Brook Twp., PA/Scranton Prep) four-point play gave Wilkes the early lead 4-2. Colin Ackerman (Manasquan, NJ/Wall Township) then matched a Cardinal three with one of his own to take the lead back for the Colonels 7-5. The hosts then went on a 15-2 scoring run to take the lead back and extend it to double digits 20-9 with just under 10 minutes to play in the half.

Momentum then swung back in the favor of the Colonels, going on a 12-8 run to close the gap to 28-21, led by six points from Eli Becker (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra). A late run from the Cardinals extended the lead to 14, but an Antonio Brittain (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) free throw right before the half sent the Colonels into the break down 45-32.

Catholic remained in firm control of the game the rest of the way, with a Jack Argento (Hershey, PA/Hershey) layup at 14:37 left to play the only time the Colonels cut the gap to single digits in the period 56-47. At the final buzzer, Wilkes fell to Catholic 91-79.

Becker led the Colonel offense, pouring in 22 points with 10 rebounds, both team-highs for his second double-double of the year. Santaniello followed with 18 points as all five Colonel starters reached double-digit scoring. Ackerman led the team with four assists, followed by Argento with three.

CJ Ruoff led Catholic with 26 points, followed by Brian Herbert with 17. Herbert also led the team with six assists, while Ryan Pegg had a team-high nine rebounds.

Wilkes returns to the court on Sunday, December 14 as they travel to face Arcadia University for a 2:00 p.m. tip off.