PHILADELPHIA, Pa.---The Wheeling Jesuit men's basketball team opened the 2012-13 season with an exhibition game against NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 preseason favorite Saint Joseph's University. The Cardinals fell 71-50 at the Hagan Arena in Philadelphia, Pa.
 
Freshman Justin Fritts led the Cardinal offense with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field and added a team-high five steals. Philip Green followed with eight points, while Ben Siefert, Steve Bridgeman and Tim Goff chipped in five each. Recardo Gaddy and Eric Siefert tallied three points apiece, while Joe Prati and Darin Harris rounded out the scoring with two and one, respectively.
 
The Cardinals played the Hawks tough for the initial eight minutes, trailing 16-13, when Jesuit hit a cold spell, and the Division I opponent capitalized. The Hawks outscored WJU 19-6 in the final 12 minutes of the half to take 35-19 halftime advantage. Jesuit's shots started to fall after the break, and the Cardinals posted 31 second-half points, but couldn't recover from the first-half deficit.
 
The Hawks were led by Ronald Roberts and Langston Galloway with 19 points apiece. C.J. Aiken and Chris Wilson followed with 13 and 10. St. Joe's won the battle of the boards 46-29.
 
The Cardinals will open regular season play on the road in Takoma Park, Md. against Washington Adventist University at 7 p.m.