WASHINGTON, D.C. - Despite a late second-half rally, the Catholic University men's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start and 17-point halftime deficit en route to a 68-58 loss to Juniata Wednesday on senior night.

Prior to the game, the Cardinals (4-3, 4-3 LC) honored its lone senior in Justin Pryor who has played in 67 career games over his four-year career while being named to the Landmark Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll twice. He finished the game with a career-high seven rebounds.

Catholic was held scoreless for the game's first eight minutes until a three-pointer by freshman Jake Melady ended the drought with 11:43 remaining in the first half.

However, the Cardinals were very much in the game as they held the Eagles to just six points on 2-of-8 shooting while forcing two turnovers.

With Juniata (3-3, 3-3 LC) holding a 9-6 margin with 11:03 left following a three-point play by freshman Jesse Hafemeister, the Eagles used an 11-1 spurt to take push their advantage to 13 with 5:52 to play.

The visitors took their largest lead, 36-19, into halftime after Michael Montecalvo converted all three free throws after being fouled shooting a three-pointer with 3.2 seconds remaining.

Just four players found the scoring column in the first half for Catholic as the team was just 7-for-20 from the floor, including 1-of-11 from three-point range.

Juniata led by as many as 23 points in the second half before the Cardinals made a late push, using a 7-0 run to cut their deficit to six with 28 seconds remaining, 64-58.

That would be as close as Catholic could get as the Eagles were 4-of-6 from the free throw line in the final 25 seconds to snap a three-game losing streak on Franny Murray Court.

Freshman Tommy Kelly scored nine of his game-high 15 points in the second half while Hafemeister added eight of his 12. Melady also finished with 12 points as he had three of the Cardinals' four three-pointers.

Freshman Colby Martins had 10 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Juniata, who scored 20 points off 13 Catholic turnovers and shot 34 free throws, were led by 12 points and seven rebounds from Chase Husted.

The Cardinals currently sit in third place in the Landmark Conference standings with one game remaining. The wrap up the regular season at home next Monday, March 1 against Drew.