CALDWELL CAPTURES CACC MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP
3-3-07
box score
ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - A put-back by freshman forward Sam Cricelli
(Brighton, England/Culham) off his own missed free throw with 22
seconds left gave the Caldwell College men's basketball team a 61-60
victory over the University of Sciences in the championship game of
the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Saturday
afternoon at Dominican College's Hennessy Center. The CACC title is
Caldwell's sixth in the 20-year history of men's basketball at
Caldwell and advances the Cougars to next week's NCAA Division II
Northeast Region Tournament for the first time. Senior guard Jean
Georges (Vauxhal, NJ/Spotswood) was named the tournament's MVP.
The first half remained close throughout, with the Cougars taking
the largest lead of the half, 21-16 at the 8:19 mark. Three-pointers
by Eric Cangelosi and Michael Mullane sparked eight straight points
for USP that game the Devils a 23-21 advantage with 5:27 left in the
half. Sophomore center Michael Luzzi (Mount Arlington,
NJ/Morris Catholic) hit a pair of lay-ups to help the Cougars regain
the lead, 29-26 with under a minute to go before halftime. USP
answered with a basket by Keith Dundas and a three from Howard
Lanier at the buzzer to go into the half leading 31-29.
The lead changed hands 13 times in the second half, with neither
team leading by more than three points. With Caldwell ahead 55-52 in
the game’s final three minutes, Bill Kurtz knotted the game at 55-55
with a three-pointer at the 2:15 mark. Georges answered with a three
of his own on the next possession to put Caldwell ahead 58-55 with
1:56 to play. A pair of free throws by Dundas made the score 58-57
Caldwell, then following two missed attempts at the line by the
Cougars, a conventional three-point play by Howard Lanier gave the
lead to USP, 60-58 with 57 seconds left.
 Both
teams came up empty on their next possessions, with Luzzi blocking
Dundas’ lay-up attempt. Congelosi was called for a foul on the
rebound, sending Cricelli to the line with 25 seconds remaining. He
made the first one, but the second one bounced off the rim. Cricelli
pounced on the loose ball and laid the ball in for a 61-60 lead with
22 seconds on the clock. With the clock winding down, Kurtz drove to
the hoop but his shot attempt was blocked by sophomore guard Carl
Augustin (Stony Point, NY/Don Bosco Prep). The victory marked
the fifth time Caldwell has won the CACC Tournament in the Hennessy
Center.
Cricelli paced the Cougars with 14 points to go with nine rebounds.
Junior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior) had 13
points, Georges finished with 12, and Luzzi grabbed a game-best 10
boards to go with seven points. Cangelosi led all scorers with 16
points to lead the Devils. Suchy and Cricelli both joined Georges on
the all-Tournament team.
The Cougars will learn their first-round match-up when the NCAA
Division II Tournament participants are announced on Sunday, Mar. 4
at 10:30 p.m.
 2007
CACC Men's Basketball Tournament
First Round - Tuesday, Feb. 27
No. 1 Philadelphia 71, No. 8 Dominican 67
No. 2 Post 78, No. 7 Felician 71
No. 6 USP 55, No. 3 Holy Family 50
No. 5 Caldwell 74, No. 4 Goldey-Beacom 65
Semifinals - Friday, Mar. 2, at Dominican College
No. 6 USP 62, Post 55
No. 5 Caldwell 73, No. 1 Philadelphia 64
Championship - Saturday, Mar. 3, at Dominican College
No. 5 Caldwell 61, No. 6 USP 60
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