WASHINGTON, D.C. - Catholic University's NCAA Tournament run concluded on Saturday evening in a tense high-level battle between the Cardinals and the Profs of Rowan. Rowan picked up an 89-85 victory over the Cardinals to advance to the Sweet Sixteen next weekend. 

Rowan and Catholic put on a show in front of a sellout crowd of more than 1,100 fans inside the DuFour Center on Saturday. Tommy Kelly, Jake Timby, and Enzo Sechi all scored 17 points for Catholic, but the Cardinals couldn't overcome the performance from the Rowan trio of Marcellus Ross, Khalif Meares, and Ja'Zere Noel. Ross scored 31 to lead the group as they combined for 74 of the team's 89 points in the victory. 

Aaron Kelly's Cardinals trailed by 10 at halftime, but were within a bucket as late as the 3:35 mark of the second half after a pair of Jesse Hafemeister free throws. Catholic outscored Rowan 52-46 in the second half, but the Profs continued to hit key shots to hold the rally at bay. 

Trailing 55-43 with 15:08 remaining, Catholic began to chip away with the help of the raucuous crowd. A Dan Buckley jumper pulled the Cardinals within eight before a Jamie Ntiamoah block led to an Ethan Hinds layup to make it 57-51 with 13:16 to play. With 11:10 left, Kelly nailed a jumper to pull the Cardinals within four points at 59-55. Noel split a pair of free throws, but Hafemeister responded with a jumper to make it a one-score game. 

Brian Herbert split a pair of free throws with 10 minutes to play, pulling Catholic within two points, but Rowan ripped off a 5-0 run to make it 65-58 as Ross drilled a three after a pair of Booty Butler free throws. Hafemeister and Timby sandwiched baskets around a Jamir Spivey free throw to get the Cardinals back within three with 6:16 to go. Ross connected from three once again with 5:10 left in the game to push the Rowan lead back to six. 

Once more Catholic pushed back, pulling with two points with 2:47 to go, but Rowan continued to have an answer, pulling ahead by six with 2:09 to play. Hafemeister connected on a three from up top to once more make it a one-possession game with 1:11 remaining, but the Profs held on to pull out an 89-85 victory. 

NOTES OF INTEREST

• Catholic's 85 points were the third-most scored in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. The program record for NCAA Tournament hoops remains 91 scored against Stockton in 1993. 
• Kelly moves into 40th all-time in Catholic history in scoring with 1,076 points, passing Sean Touhey on the all-time list. Hafemeister remains in 14th with 1,489 points. 
• 25 wins for Catholic is the most in over a decade, matching the 2012-13 team.