DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPS TOO MUCH FOR LYCOMING MEN’S BASKETBALL

WASHINGTON, DC – In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. On Monday evening, the Lycoming College men’s basketball team faced last season’s Division III national champions, Catholic University. The Warriors, however, could not beat the best team from a year ago, falling 87-70 to the Cardinals. Lycoming falls to 8-2 with the loss, while Catholic improved to 8-1 on the year.

The Cardinal jumped out to an early lead pulling ahead by nine, seven minutes into the game. The Warriors fought back to take the lead midway through the period, but Catholic went on another run to pull ahead by 11 with less than two minutes to play. A late surge by Lycoming narrowed their deficit to six at the half, 43-37.

The Warriors closed to within one early in the second half, but the Cardinals put the game out of reach by going on a 23-4 run during a seven-minute span of the second period. Lycoming fought back yet again, but could get no closer than 17 points by game’s end.

Tommy Wesner (Jr./Dillsburg, PA: Northern) led the Warriors in scoring with 13 points. Chris Napier (Sr./Port Jervis, NY; Minisink Valley) added eight points while leading the squad with seven rebounds. Freshman Curtis Mays (Philadelphia, PA; University City) contributed nine points and five rebounds.