The Rangers erased a 12-point first-half deficit, then held off a late rally in the second period to beat Catholic University 69-65 in their home, season, and Landmark Conference opener Friday evening in Baldwin Gym.

With both sides making adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game was played without fans and players wearing masks. 

Sophomore forward Howard McBurnie, Jr. paced Drew with a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds while junior forward Lybrant Robinson added 14 points, none bigger than a clutch 3-pointer with just over a minute to go that turned a one-point Ranger lead into a four-point cushion.

Freshman guard Malcolm Newman added 11 points in his collegiate debut while sophomore forward Michael Kane added 10 points in his first career start.

Tommy Kelly scored 17 points to lead the Cardinals while Jesse Hafemeister had 14 points and seven rebounds.

Catholic used a 14-4 run in the first half to build a 35-23 lead with 2:42 on the clock. The Rangers answered with a 6-0 spurt to cut the deficit in half, and a 2-for-3 trip at the foul line from McBurnie with one second left made it a 37-31 game at the break.

It was a game of runs in the second half, starting with a 16-0 Drew surge that put the Rangers up 47-40 with 13:34 remaining.

The Cardinals responded with a big run of their own, outscoring the Rangers 15-3 to go ahead 55-50 with 7:55 to go. Drew answered with a 14-0 outburst to build a 64-55 lead with 3:15 left, but Catholic refused to go away, running off the next eight points to slim the deficit to one. 

Robinson then knocked down his clutch 3, taking a kick-out from McBurnie before drilling a wide-open look from the right corner to make it 67-63. The Cardinals answered with a pair of free throws, then put sophomore forward Carter Truby on the foul line with 15 seconds left. Truby sunk both shots, and the Rangers came up with a big defensive stop at the other end, with Kane grabbing a big rebound with seven seconds left.

The Rangers complete their home-and-home series with Catholic on Sunday, when they visit the Cardinals in a 2 p.m. start.