The University of Scranton had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 72-63 loss at Catholic University Saturday afternoon at the DuFour Center.
Freshman guard Ryan FitzPatrick (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and junior guard and tri-captain Darren Cannon (Paupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area) scored all 12 of his points in the first half as the Royals cut a nine-point second-half deficit down to one before the Cardinals held on to improve to 4-0. Sophomore point-guard Randy Arnold (Doyletown, Pa./Central Bucks West) and junior guard Mike McGowan (Lansdale, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) added 11 points apiece for Scranton, which out-rebounded the Cardinals, 34-26, but were guilty of 21 turnovers.
Scott Fumai came off the bench to lead Catholic with 16 points, forward Patrick Dwyer added 14 points and five rebounds, and guard Pat Satalin scored all 12 of his points from the free throw line. The Cardinals connected on 21 of 26 free throw attempts in the second half to finish 24 of 31 (77.4 percent) for the game.
The Royals, who trailed by only one at intermission, 35-34, fell behind 52-43 with 9:41 left before FitzPatrick hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark an 8-0 run that cut the Cardinal lead to one, 52-51, with 4:57 remaining.
Catholic then took advantage of the free throw line by hitting 13 of 14 free throws in the final 4:39. The biggest blow, however, was delivered by Fumai, who connected on a 3-pointer with 1:46 left to push Catholic’s lead to 60-53. Scranton cut the Cardinals’ lead to four twice on a 3-pointer by Fitzpatrick with 1:27 left and a jump shot by McGowan with 54 seconds remaining, but six consecutive free throws by Satalin down the stretch sealed the win for Catholic.
The Royals will take on Lycoming College in the Freedom Conference opener for both teams this Wednesday, November 30, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the Lamade Gymnasium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (3-1) Ryan FitzPatrick 4-8 1-2 12; Darren Cannon 4-4 0-0 12; Randy Arnold 3-13 5-6 11; Mike McGowan 4-5 2-2 11; Tom Bicknell 4-8 1-3 9; Patrick Clabby 2-3 2-3 6; Bill Burke 1-2 0-0 2; James Powell 0-2 0-0 0; Paul Hawk 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-47 11-16 63. CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY (4-0) Scott Fumai 5-11 3-3 16; Patrick Dwyer 4-7 5-9 14; Pat Satalin 0-8 12-12 12; Shane Sowden 4-4 2-2 10; Andrew Baker 3-4 2-3 8; Steven Papageorge 2-5 0-2 5; Mike Wasilenko 1-3 0-0 3; Stephen Wheeler 1-2 0-0 2; Matt Spierenburg 1-1 0-0 2; Sean Stolzenthaler 0-1 0-0 0; Aaron Kelly 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 21-50 24-31 72. Scranton........................ 34 29 - 63 Catholic University........... 35 37 - 72 3-point goals-SCRMBB 8-15 (Darren Cannon 4-4; Ryan FitzPatrick 3-3; Mike McGowan 1-1; Paul Hawk 0-2; Randy Arnold 0-5), Catholic University 6-21 (Scott Fumai 3-5; Mike Wasilenko 1-1; Steven Papageorge 1-3; Patrick Dwyer 1-2; Aaron Kelly 0-2; Pat Satalin 0-8). Fouled out--SCRMBB-Mike Kreuter, Catholic University-None. Rebounds-SCRMBB 34 (Tom Bicknell 8), Catholic University 26 (Aaron Kelly 5; Patrick Dwyer 5; Shane Sowden 5). Assists-SCRMBB 14 (Ryan FitzPatrick 3; Tom Bicknell 3), Catholic University 14 (Pat Satalin 4; Aaron Kelly 4). Total fouls-SCRMBB 27, Catholic University 17. A-500