box scoreCALDWELL, N.J. - Nyack College overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat Caldwell College, 75-72 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Saturday night at the George R. Newman Center. The loss, which snapped the Cougars' three-game winning streak, dropped Caldwell to 3-5 overall and 2-1 in the CACC, while the Warriors improved to 1-3, 1-0 CACC.
The first half remained close early, with neither team leading by more than four points for the first 13 minutes. With the game tied at 20-20 at the 7:09 mark, the Cougars scored 11 straight points, including three-pointers from senior guard
Mark Kelly (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Twp.), pictured, and sophomore guard
Adam Sabree (Detroit, MI/Renaissance) that put Caldwell ahead 31-20. Threes from Kelly and sophomore guard
Michael Wise (Whitesboro, NJ/Middletownship) helped maintain the upper hand as the Cougars took a 37-26 lead into the break.
But Nyack wouldn't go away, opening the second half with a 10-0 run sparked by six points from Brian Roberts that had the Warriors within one, 37-36 with 17:10 remaining. Caldwell worked the lead back up to five before a 9-2 spurt put Nyack in front, 45-43 for the first time since the eight-minute mark of the first half. After a lay-up by sophomore forward
B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior) capped a 9-1 run that game the Cougars a 52-46 advantage with 10:41 left, the Warriors again came back with six straight points to regain the lead, 54-52.
The lead would change hands six more times in the next six minutes. Then with the game tied at 69-69 with 1:48 on the clock, Daryl Leegwater's basket briefly gave Nyack the lead before Kelly answered with another three to put Caldwell on top 72-71 with 1:12 left. Roberts responded with a lay-up, then Josh Pust made two from the free throw line to make the score 75-72 in favor of Nyack with just five seconds remaining. Kelly's three-point attempt at the buzzer was blocked by Sheann Martinez, giving the Warriors their first win of the season.
Kelly led the Cougars with a career-high 23 points, including five three-pointers. Suchy added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the first double-double of his career. Roberts finished with 26 points and nine rebounds and Martinez had 20 points and four steals for Nyack, which shot 59.3 percent in the second half compared to Caldwell's 29.4 percent.
The Cougars continue CACC play with a home game against Holy Family on Thursday, Dec. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at the Newman Center.
