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CALDWELL, N.J. - Despite 31 points from sophomore forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor, NJ/Egg Harbor), the Caldwell College men's basketball team lost to Holy Family University, 80-71 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Thursday night at the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars fall to 3-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference, while the Tigers, who are ranked 23rd in the latest NABC Division II national poll, improve to 7-1 overall and remain unbeaten in the CACC with a 3-0 record.

The Cougars started the game well as all five starters scored to open the game with a 15-8 run over the first four minutes of the first half. Holy Family's Ryan Haigh hit a pair of threes to ignite an 11-2 spurt that gave the Tigers a 19-17 advantage. Perez, pictured,  regained the lead for Caldwell with a conventional three-point play with 11:14 left in the half. The lead would change hands four more times in the half, with the Cougars eventually taking a 34-29 on a dunk by Perez at the 2:45 mark. But four points from Ryan Lancaster and another three-pointer from Haigh helped the Tigers tie the game at 36-36 by halftime. Perez finished the half with 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field.

This time is was Holy Family's turn to start out hot, as the Tigers opened the second half with an 18-6 run buoyed by nine points from guard Hazin Harris. Caldwell used a Perez lay-up and a three-pointer from senior guard Mark Kelly (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Twp.) to cut the lead to 54-47 with 11:23 remaining. But Holy Family maintained the upper hand, building the lead back up to 13 points. The Cougars went on a late 10-2 run that reduced the Tigers' advantage to 76-71, but it wasn't enough to keep Holy Family from winning its seventh straight game.

Perez made 15 of his 19 attempts from the floor in tying his career high of 31 points, set in last year's 89-62 victory over the Tigers on Feb. 25. He also grabbed a team-best eight rebounds in the loss. Senior guard Kelvin Reese (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) dished out a career-best nine assists, while sophomore guard Adam Sabree (Detroit, MI/Renaissance) had five steals. Haigh finished with 20 points and Harris had 19 to pace the Tigers.

Next up for the Cougars is another home CACC contest on Saturday, Dec. 10, when they host Wilmington College. Game time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at the Newman Center.