COUGARS SNAP LOSING SKID WITH 66-65 WIN AT NYACK
12-2-04
box score
 NYACK,
N.Y. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team overcame a late
second-half deficit to defeat Nyack College 66-65 Thursday evening in
the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener for both teams. The
win ended a season-opening four-game losing streak for the Cougars
(1-4), while Nyack fell to 4-2 overall.
Caldwell led by as many as six points in the first half, and held a
28-23 advantage after a three-pointer by sophomore guard Nolan Hall
(Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional) with 4:00 left in the half. But Nyack
finished the half with an 11-1 run to take a 34-29 lead into the break.
Caldwell continued to trail for the opening moments of the first half
until freshman forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor, NJ/Egg Harbor)
scored nine straight points for the Cougars in a three-minute span as
Caldwell regained the lead, 40-39 with 15:49 to go.
The lead would change hands three times in the next three minutes, with
Nyack eventually jumping out to a 54-48 lead on Maurice Bennett's
three-pointer at the 9:09 mark. Caldwell then cut the lead to two points
twice before tying the game on a Perez basket with 4:19 left. Three free
throws by Hall and a basket by senior Ron Harris (Trenton,
NJ/Trenton Central) (pictured) gave the Cougars a 64-59 advantage with
just 2:25 remaining. After the teams traded turnovers, Nyack baskets by
Omar Grant, Bennett and Antaeus Hayes sandwiched around Caldwell
turnovers gave Nyack a 65-64 lead with only 33 seconds on the clock. On
the next possession, Harris was fouled by Grant and went to the line for
two shots. Harris drained both for a 66-65 Cougar lead. Nyack was able
to get only one shot off before the buzzer, a three-point attempt by
Adam Bauman that was off the mark.
Perez led the Cougars in scoring with 20 points, including 16 in the
second half, as Caldwell shot 51.9 percent from the field after
halftime. Harris finished with a season-best 17 points and team-high
three assists, while Hall had 12 points and two steals. Hayes paced
Nyack with 14 points.
The Cougars return to action on Saturday, Dec. 4, when they host
Bloomfield College in a CACC game at the George R. Newman Center. Game
time is set for 1:00 p.m.
Back to Men's Basketball page
|
