COUGARS BATTLE BACK FROM 21-POINT DEFICIT TO BEAT
POST
1-17-06
box score
 CALDWELL,
N.J. - Down 41-20 at halftime, the Caldwell College men's basketball
team staged an improbably comeback to defeat Post University, 66-63 in a
Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Tuesday evening at the
George R. Newman Center. The victory is the Cougars first conference win
at home this season and improves their record to 9-9 overall, including
a 5-5 mark in the CACC. The Eagles fall to 5-9 overall, 4-5 in the
conference.
The Eagles used hot shooting from the field to lead by as many as 23 in
the first half, making 16-of-27 (.593) from the floor, including 6-of-12
from three-point range. A.J. Reitter hit all four of his three-point
attempts in the half en route to 12 points, while Justin Skipwith scored
11 points. The Cougars, meanwhile, made just 26.7 percent from the field
and were out-rebounded 21-13 in the half.
Momentum swung in favor of Caldwell in the second half. With the Eagles
still leading 50-32 with 14:17 to play, the Cougars got back into the
game with a 15-0 run that included a pair of three-pointers from
freshman guard Carl Augustin (Stony Point, NY/Don Bosco Prep) and
five points from junior guard Jean Georges (Vauxhal,
NJ/Spotswood), left, that made the score 50-47 at the 8:16 mark. The
Cougars forced six Eagles' turnovers while swiping four steals. After a
dunk by Post's Peter Lawal, free throws by Georges and sophomore forward
B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior) pulled Caldwell to within
one. Then after another Post turnover, Augustin hit a jumper that gave
the Cougars their first lead since the first two minutes of the game.
The Cougars worked the lead up to 57-54 with just over two minutes
remaining. Reitter answered with his only three of the second half to
tie the game at 57-57 with 1:27 on the clock. On the Cougars' next
possession, sophomore forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor, NJ/Egg
Harbor) converted a conventional three-point play to complete the
comeback and put the Cougars up for good. Post pulled within one on a
three from Gary Shick, but free throws by Georges and Suchy sealed the
hard-fought victory for Caldwell.
 Georges
netted 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, with Perez
tallying 10 of his 16 points after halftime. Georges also grabbed a
team-best eight boards, while senior guard Kelvin Reese (Teaneck,
NJ/Teaneck), right, contributed to the Cougars' swarming defense with
four steals. Caldwell out-rebounded Post 23-12 in the second half and
forced a total of 21 turnovers in the game. Reitter finished with 17
points to lead the Eagles.
Next up for the Cougars is a home conference game with Goldey-Beacom
College on Saturday, Jan. 21. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in
the Newman Center.
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