WASHINGTON – In an entertaining game that came down to the final minute, CUA outlasted DeSales 81-72 on Wednesday inside the DuFour Center to remain unbeaten.  Steve Limberiou pumped in a career-high 25 points to lead the Cardinals and was joined in double figures by Shawn Holmes (17) and Chris Kearney (12).

CUA led by 14 at halftime, but DeSales came out of the gate and ripped off the first eight points of the second half to pull within 45-39 with 16:19 to play.

A Mike Coleman layup at the 15:17 mark pulled the Bulldogs to within five, 46-41, and after Coleman and Jake Hungarter made back-to-back 3-pointers, the visitors were within a single point, 48-47.

CUA responded by scoring six of the next seven points to up its lead to 54-58 with 11:41 on the clock.

A pair of Derek Puhalski free throws with exactly six minutes remaining gave the Cardinals a six-point advantage, but CUA was whistled for two straight personal fouls and a technical foul, leading to four free throws by DeSales to make it a two-point game.

The Cardinals answered with another run, this time scoring six of seven points to open a 72-65 lead with 3:20 left in the game.

With under two minutes to play, Kearney ripped down a missed Bulldogs shot and was quickly fouled.  Kearney was injured on the play, so senior Andy Roell came in and calmly sank two free throws to make it an eight-point game.

Following another Bulldogs miss, Holmes got to the basket for a hoop and CUA was comfortably in front by ten, all but sealing the Cardinals seventh victory of the season.

Limberiou was on fire all evening, draining 7 of 8 shots, including 4 of 5 3-pointers en route to his third 20-point game of the season.  He also pulled down four rebounds and sank 7 of 8 free throws.  Holmes finished with 17 points, three rebounds and two steals, while Kearney hit for 12 points and pulled down 12 caroms.

The Cardinals shot 47.5% from the floor and 75% at the charity stripe, while outscoring the Bulldogs 36-16 in the paint.

DeSales shot 50% from downtown on the night, sinking 12 of 24 3-pointers, led by Bob Zanneo's five.  Zanneo finished with 17 points, while Brett Moyer scored 19 and Coleman added 12.  DeSales turned the ball over 19 times, but did have 16 assists on 22 field goals.

The first nine minutes of the game were very tight, until CUA unleashed an 18-0 run that spanned 10 minutes and put the Cardinals in front 36-18.

After DeSales had gotten it down  to a nine-point CUA lead, Holmes drilled a trifecta to up the Cardinals lead to 12 and Darrell Carroll's jumper with just over a minute to play set the halftime margin at 45-31.

The Cardinals will hit the road for their next game, traveling to New Jersey to face Richard Stockton on Saturday.  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.