WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sean Neylon and Brian Herbert each scored 19 points to lead Catholic (6-1, 3-0) to a 75-51 victory over Susquehanna (3-3, 1-2) in its home opener on Wednesday evening. The Cardinals and River Hawks were tied 18-18 with 5:30 left to play in the first half before dominating the final 25 minutes of the contest to earn a 24-point win. 

The Cardinals shot 50.9 percent from the field, marking its fifth game in seven tries in which they shot 50 percent or better from the floor. For the season, Catholic has surpassed the 50 percent mark on its shots while shooting nearly 43 percent from beyond the arc. Catholic matched its season-high with 10 makes from distance. 

Neylon added to his torrid shooting start, knocking down five of his seven three-point tries to put him at 57 percent from deep on 51 tries so far this season. Neylon has knocked down 29 triples and has hit at least three threes in every game. 

After a sluggish start from both offenses had the game tied at 18 with less than five to play in the first half, Catholic sprung to life, getting back-to-back threes from Herbert and Googie Seidman to take a six-point lead. After two Herbert free throws put Catholic up nine with 1:25 to go in the opening half, Buckley scored to give Catholic its first double digit lead with 1:01 remaining. The River Hawks scored the next two baskets to send the game to halftime with a 31-24 Cardinal edge. 

Catholic used an 11-0 run to open the second half, pushing the lead to 18 points as Herbert canned a three following back-to-back Buckley layups. The Cardinal lead would enter the 20's with 11:24 to play as Neylon grabbed an offensive rebound and then finished the possession with a make from distance. 

Aaron Kelly's team would grow its lead as high as 26 after a Shane Sheehan dunk before closing out the 24-point victory. 

QUICK HITTERS

• With tonight's victory, Catholic has built a three-game winning streak against the River Hawks for the first time since 2013-14. The Cardinals are now 17-19 against Susquehanna in the Landmark Conference era. 
• Neylon sits just nine points away from 1,000 for his collegiate career combining his 679 points at Catholic and his 312 points as an Ursinus Bear. 
• Herbert matched his career-high set last week with 19 points, growing his scoring average to 15.7 points through seven games this season. 
• Sheehan and Peter Gellene each scored their first career points in tonight's contest.

Catholic will host Moravian on Saturday in the season's first home doubleheader inside the DuFour Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.