CALDWELL, N.J. - Senior guard Jean Georges (Vauxhal, NJ/Spotswood) scored a game-high 22 points as the Caldwell College men's basketball team defeated Mercy College, 69-58 on the first day of the Commerce Bank Cougar Classic Saturday afternoon at the George R. Newman Center. The victory gives the Cougars an overall record of 3-1 on the season, while the Flyers drop to 1-3.

The first half remained close throughout, with neither team leading by more than six points. Freshman guard John Reed (Wall, NJ/Wall) hit a three-pointer with 1:26 left in the half to put the Cougars ahead 31-27. But Mercy guard Victor Sidberry drained a pair of threes sandwiched around a Caldwell free throw to close out the half with the Flyers leading 33-32.

In the second half, Georges helped the Cougars regain control of the game, burying four three-pointers to spark a 26-6 run from the start of the half to take a 58-39 lead at the 10:54 mark. Freshmen Reed, Matt Cohen (Forked River, NJ/Manasquan) and Sam Cricelli (Brighton, England/Culham) also contributed to the run, combining for 11 points. Mercy continued to fight back, using eight points from guard Chanze Wellington to key a 15-4 spurt that left the Flyers trailing by only eight, 62-54 with 2:29 on the clock. But they would get no closer as the Cougars held on for their second straight win.

Caldwell enjoyed its best shooting day of the season, making 58.1 percent from the field for the game compared to 37.3 percent for Mercy. Georges went 7-of-13 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc to record his fourth consecutive game with 20 or more points. He now has scored 973 points in his career to move into 14th on Caldwell's all-time scoring list. Junior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior) finished with 16 points and a team-best six rebounds, while junior guard Hans Stelzer (Seldon, NY/Our Savior), right, dished out a career-high nine assists in the win. Wellington had 16 points and Sidberry tallied 14 to pace the Flyers.

In the day's second game, Bloomfield College won a close affair with Dowling College, 68-65 to earn its first victory of the season. Guard Andre Dabney scored a game-high 20 points and guard Omari Knox had 17 points and 10 boards for the Deacons (1-4). The Golden Lions (2-4) were led by guard Wesley Boone's 12 points, with guards Nick Flagg and David Seagers each tallying 11 points.

The Commerce Bank Cougar Classic concludes tomorrow with Bloomfield and Mercy playing at 1:00 p.m. and Caldwell and Dowling facing off at 3:00 p.m. in the Newman Center.