WASHINGTON, D.C.  — The Catholic men's basketball team returned to its home floor on Saturday afternoon for a Landmark contest against Lycoming, looking to remain atop of the conference on the season. The Cardinals were in control of the action throughout the majority of the game and another offensive outburst from CJ Ruoff helped lead them to an 86-59 win over the Warriors to improve to 13-4 (9-1) for the season.

After falling behind 13-8 in the opening minutes, Ruoff and Matthew Gorman knocked down back-to-back threes to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game at 14-13. Catholic continued to build on that lead for the remainder of the half while shooting 55 percent from the field and converting eight times from deep to take a 48-30 lead into the break. Gorman did a bulk of the damage from three-point range with three makes while Ruoff dropped 18 points in the half. 

Ruoff continued his hot shooting with a pair of triples coming out of the half as Catholic started the second half on a 10-2 run where Charley Hepting added the other four points in the run. After 9 turnovers in the first half they continued to plague the Warriors in the second half as they committed seven more and the Cardinals took advantage, scoring 28 points off turnovers. Lycoming was able to cut the deficit down to 12 with just under six minutes remaining in regulation, but the Cardinals prevented any comeback from happening by outscoring the Warriors 21-10 down the stretch. Alex Welch came in and converted from deep twice in the final minute to put a cap on a 27-point victory for Catholic.

Catholic completed a third consecutive season sweep of Lycoming and it remains unbeaten against the Warriors since they joined the conference in the 2023-24 season.

Ruoff had his second consecutive 30+ point game, finishing with 32 while going 10-for-16 from the field and making a career-high seven threes. Ruoff is now averaging 21.4 points per game which is the second most in the conference thus far this season.

Brian Herbert and Gorman each also scored double-digit points with 13 each and Herbert also came down with seven rebounds. Michael Dankert once again led the team in rebounding with 12, his third straight game with 10+, while also adding eight points. 

The Cardinals are back at home on Wednesday, January 28 when they take on Goucher for the second time this season. Catholic defeated Goucher 62-56 in the first game between the two teams. Tipoff is set for 6 pm at Franny Murray Court.