Box Score
 
WHEELING, W.Va. – The Wheeling Jesuit men's hoops team couldn't convert a four point halftime lead into a victory on Saturday against the Shepherd Rams, falling in the dying minutes to the Mountain East's second place team, 82-87.
 
The Cardinals fall to 6-7 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
 
"We came out ready to play, we just have to be able to make plays when need to be made," said WJU head coach Danny Sancomb. "Down the stretch we turned the ball over too many times. We've got to learn from our mistakes, and get better from them."
 
WJU received some big performances off the bench in the opening half, with Chase Lawson going 3-4 on threes for nine points, and Kyle Ritz putting in 16 points in front of his former teammates from Cambridge High School who were on hand to watch Ritz play in college.
 
Overall the Cardinals shot 48% from the field in the opening half to take the lead at the break.
 
In the second half, Justin Fritts caught fire to finish with 19 points. Also scoring big for the Cardinals was Eric Siefert who drained 13 points. Turnovers would be a major problem for the Cardinals, who gave possession up 19 times.
 
WJU now turns their attention to "the rumble on route 88" when West Liberty comes down the hill to take on the Cardinals in the annual cross town grudge match on Thursday. The West Lib game is set to tip off at 7:30 on January 23^rd.