HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Catholic University men's basketball team dropped a Landmark Conference road match on Wednesday night in Pennsylvania. The Cardinals fell into a 16-point first-half hole they were unable to dig all the way out of, dropping the contest by a score of 81-67. 

Catholic now sits in a tie for first in the Landmark Conference at 10-3 with Susquehanna. The River Hawks hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with one game remaining each. 

The Cardinals led 6-5 early on after a Dan Buckley three-pointer with 13:34 left in the first half. A Charley Hepting bucket tied the contest at 8-8 after the Eagles retook the lead, but the Eagles would go on a 20-5 run, taking a 28-13 lead with 4:41 remaining in the first. 

Buckley scored seven straight points to get Catholic within eight points with 3:10 to play in the half, but this time it was a 10-2 run for Juniata to end the half with a 38-22 edge. 

The Eagles led by 28 early in the second half before the Cardinals cut the deficit down under 20 points with 12:50 remaining. Jesse Hafemeister knocked down a three with 5:30 remaining to get the Juniata lead down to 15. At the 3:12 mark, Sean Neylon hit a three to get Catholic within 13 and then hit another to cut it to 12 at the 2:22 mark, but the Eagles closed out the victory. 

Buckley scored 16 points and handed out three assists for the Cardinals. Neylon added 15 points and six rebounds while Hafemeister scored 14 and pulled in five boards. 

The Cardinals return to action for the regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon as they host Drew for Senior Day.