SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The Catholic men's basketball team fell for just the second time this season, 78-77, at Susquehanna on Saturday evening. The Cardinals fall to 21-2 on the season with both defeats coming at the hands of the River Hawks. 

Catholic led late in the second half of Saturday's contest, but ultimately fell short as the River Hawks used an 8-0 run to come away victorious. 

Four different Cardinals scored at least 10 points in the contest with Jesse Hafemeister recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Tommy Kelly added 14 points and four rebounds. Sean Neylon chipped in with 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists, and Jake Melady scored 10 points off the bench for Catholic. 

After just eight minutes of game action, the Cardinals trailed 27-8. At the 6:26 mark, Hafemeister knocked down a three to get Catholic's deficit back to double digits at 31-23. With 1:25 remaining in the half, Neylon hit a pair of free throws and followed with a three just 13 seconds later to pull the Cardinals within one. Catholic took the lead on a Kelly jumper with 40 seconds remaining in the half but ultimately entered the break down a point. 

Catholic jumped out to a 50-42 lead after a Brian Herbert bucket at the 15:33 mark of the second half and pushed the lead to 11 after a Jake Timby three. The lead remained 11 after a Pat Buckley jumper at the 10:07 mark. The River Hawks trimmed the lead to five with 6:57 to play. 

Melady drilled a three with 4:50 to play, extending Catholic's lead to 74-66. With less than three minutes to play the River Hawks cut the deficit to just five points at 75-70. The Cardinals took a 77-70 lead before surrendering the final eight points of the contest. 

Catholic returns to action on Wednesday, traveling to Juniata to kick off the final week of the 2022-23 regular season.