COUGARS
MEN'S BASKETBALL

HARRIS, PEREZ PACE COUGARS TO VICTORY OVER LEAGUE-LEADING HOLY FAMILY

2-25-05
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CALDWELL, N.J. - Freshman forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor, NJ/Egg Harbor), pictured, poured in a career-high 31 points and senior guard Ron Harris (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) broke Caldwell's single-season record for steals as the Caldwell College men's basketball team defeated Holy Family, 89-62 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Friday evening at the Newman Center. The win gives the Cougars a record of 13-6 in the CACC (14-13 overall) and clinches third place and a home game in the first round of the CACC Tournament, which starts Mar. 1. The Tigers, who fell into a first-place tie with Bloomfield College, dropped to 17-9 overall, 14-5 CACC.

The Cougars opened the game with an 18-5 run that included eight points each by Perez and sophomore guard Jean Georges (Vauxhal, NJ/Spotswood). Caldwell's lead grew to as many as 14 points twice in the first half, which was capped off by a lay-up at the buzzer by junior guard Kelvin Reese (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) to give the Cougars a 41-27 lead into the break. Perez and Georges led the way with 16 and 13 points, respectively in the half, while Caldwell shot 55.6 percent from the floor.

The Cougars pushed the lead to 48-32 with 16 minutes left before the Tigers reeled off eight straight points, including five from center Bob Presner, to cut the lead to 48-40 with 13:57 remaining in the game. But the Tigers would get no closer, as a 17-4 run by Caldwell midway through the second half made it 76-54 with 5:20 on the clock.

Harris picked up his fifth steal of the game and 86th of the season at the 5:32 mark of the second half, breaking his own school record of 85 set last year. Harris, who finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, was playing in his final regular-season home game for the Cougars.

Perez went 14-of-19 from the field, while also grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Georges finished with 14 points, while junior guard Mark Kelly (Oakhurst, NJ/Oakhurst) nailed four three-pointers en route to 12 points. Seniors Angelo Garcia (Princeton, NJ/Susan Wagner) and Brandon Smith (Bloomfield, NJ/East Orange), who scored five and two points, respectively, also played in their final regular-season home games in the Scarlet, White and Gold. Ryan Haigh led Holy Family with 24 points.

The Cougars close out the regular-season schedule tomorrow with a road game at Wilmington College at 6:00 p.m. In the first round of the CACC Tournament, the Cougars will play the sixth seed on Tuesday, Mar. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Newman Center.

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