WASHINGTON - The economy took its toll on the Haverford College men's basketball team Tuesday night in the nation's capital as they couldn't buy a basket in a 70-37 loss to the Catholic University of American in non-conference action.

Though led by freshman Cam Baker's 17 points, Haverford (1-2) had trouble finding the bottom of the basket otherwise, shooting just 25 percent from the field while the hosts experienced an upturn in their stocks opening with 41 percent shooting in the first half then getting even more return for their investment in the second, hitting 58 percent of their shots.

The Fords played a solid first 20 minutes trailing Catholic (3-2) by only three with 2:35 to play but the Cardinals ran off five straight points to close out the stanza and take a 31-23 lead into the intermission.

Catholic extended the margin to 13 in the opening minutes of the second half but Haverford pulled back within eight after a pair of successful free throws by Doug Edelman.

The hosts just got hotter as the visiting Fords grew colder over the remaining 18 minutes, though. Haverford scored their last basket at the 6:01 mark with the score at 57-37 and the Cardinals rolled through the final minutes to their third win of the season.

Edelman finished with eight points and five rebounds in the loss. Baker added five rebounds while Sam Permutt had a team high eight boards for Haverford.

The Fords will try to get back on the winning track at the close of the holiday weekend with a Sunday trip to visit Moravian College in a 4 p.m. non-conference tilt.