WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The No. 4 Wilkes University men's basketball team travels to the nation's capital Thursday night for a Landmark Conference Tournament Semifinals matchup against the No. 1 Catholic University Cardinals at 7 p.m.

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Tickets

Adults: $11

Minors (10-17): $6

Children (Under 10): Free

Landmark students/faculty: Free with valid ID

It's the third consecutive year that these two teams meet in the semifinals, with Catholic winning the two previous contests. The Colonels hope this time things will be different, and have momentum on their side after a thrilling first round win over Elizabethtown on Tuesday.

Wilkes had the upper hand early in the game, leading 13-7 at the 14:41 mark and 26-18 with 9:40 left in the first half. However, the Blue Jays rallied with a 21-6 run to close out the half and take a seven-point lead (39-32) into the break.

The visitors increased their lead to nine to start the second half, but the Colonels went on a quick 9-0 run powered by Daniel Santaniello (Roaring Brook Twp., PA/Scranton Prep) to tie the game 41-41. From there, the Colonels retook the lead midway through the second half, and held on for the 74-70 win despite a good fight from the Blue Jays.

Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) finished the game with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds on 11-19 shooting, while Santaniello ended with 16 points on 4-6 from the field and 6-6 from the free throw line.

Meanwhile, Blue Jay guard Austin Finarelli scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds on 8-17 from the field, but the Colonels held everyone else in check on the defensive end. No other Elizabethtown player scored more than 11 points or shot above 40% from the field.

Now the Colonels look to replicate some of that success against a Cardinals team that ranks third in the Landmark Conference in scoring offense and first in scoring defense.

The Cardinals earned the number-one seed in the conference after a 19-6 overall record and 15-3 record in Landmark play. They won their final three regular season games to bring momentum of their own into this matchup, and boast a roster of several players near the top of the conference in major statistical categories.

The two players the Cardinals rely on the most are seniors Brian Herbert and CJ Ruoff. Ruoff ranks third in the Landmark in scoring average (19.9 points per game), fifth in three-point percentage (39.2%), and fourth in assists (4.5 per game). Meanwhile, Herbert ranks ninth in scoring average (16.8 points per game) and 15th in field goal percentage (48.4%).

In the frontcourt, Catholic has two players who are top 15 in the Landmark in rebounds per game, helping the team finish second in the conference in rebounding during the regular season. Their leading rebounder is Michael Dankert, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game, and Charlie Hepting ranks 15th at 5.4 rebounds per game. Hepting also leads the Landmark Conference in field goal percentage (62.1%).

The winner of this game will advance to the Landmark Conference Championship game against the winner of the Drew vs. Susquehanna semifinals matchup.