Box Score WASHINGTON — The Catholic University of America men's basketball team earned another hard-fought, come-from-behind victory on Wednesday night inside the DuFour Center as the Cardinals got past Elizabethtown, 74-72.
Etown came out hot and led by as many as 11 in the first half, but the Cardinals fought back to make if a four-point game at the half, 36-32. Catholic finally went ahead midway through the second, 51-50, and though the Blue Jays were able to tie it up with just over a minute to play, Catholic answered to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Catholic got a second-straight 30-point game a near-perfect night from senior Jay Howard as he went 11-of-14 from the field and 12-of-14 from the free throw line to finish with 34 points, two off his career best. It was his sixth 30-plus point game of the season. He also pulled down eight boards in his 12th complete game of the year.
Both Catholic and Scranton are now tied at 8-5 overall in the Landmark standings. Catholic swept the Royals during the regular season and owns the tiebreaker, but needs either a win or a Scranton loss to make the dance.
The Cardinals postseason lives were kept alive thanks in part to junior Andre Mitchell who scored 15 points with four rebounds, two assists and three steals as he also played all 40 minutes.
Mitchell also came up clutch along with Howard.
After Elizabethtown tied the game at 70 after a 3-pointer, it an And-1 by Howard and then a free throw by Mitchell that helped ice the game.
Sophomore center Riley Hayes was strong in 35 minutes, just missing a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
The Cards also got a boost off the bench from rookie point guard Isaiah Godwin. He scored seven points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Needing a victory on Saturday, the playoffs essentially start against Moravian this weekend as the Cardinal host the Greyhounds at 2 p.m., on Senior Day.
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