CALDWELL, N.J. - Senior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior New American) recorded his 1,000th career point as the Caldwell College men's basketball team fell to Southern New Hampshire University, 73-61 in the second game of the ECAC/Commerce Bank Classic Saturday afternoon in the George R. Newman Center. The loss is the Cougars' third in a row and drops their overall record to 2-5, while the Penmen improve to 4-5 on the season.
Suchy eclipsed the 1,000-point mark on a lay-up with just under two minutes left in the game. He becomes the 14th men's basketball player at Caldwell College to total 1,000 points in his career.
The milestone was overshadowed by a solid effort from the Penmen, who shot 66.7 percent from the field in the first half to take a 39-29 advantage into the break. After the Cougars led 19-12 through the first eight minutes, Southern New Hampshire answered with a 19-3 run that resulted in a 31-22 lead at the six minute mark. Sam Carey made all five of his shot attempts in the half en route to 12 points for the Penmen.
A pair of baskets by Suchy and a lay-up from junior forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) helped the Cougars cut the deficit to 41-35 early in the second half. But a three-pointer by Troy Bowen sparked eight straight points for SNHU, expanding its lead to 49-35. Caldwell was able to pull to within seven points with under two minutes to play, but the Penmen made 5-of-6 from the free throw line down the stretch to wrap up the win. Although the Cougars connected on 65.7 percent of their two-point field goal attempts, they struggled from three-point range, making just 1-of-20 from beyond the arc.
Suchy led the Cougars with 20 points, with Perez adding 15 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Eddie Crockett (Passaic, NJ/Passaic) recorded season highs of 12 points and five boards off the bench. Bowen finished with 20 points to earn the Player of the Game award. Carey had 16 points and eight rebounds in support of Bowen.
In the day's first game, Franklin Pierce University (4-6) outlasted Dominican College, 87-84 in overtime. Franklin Pierce's Timothy Munch tallied 21 points and was named the Player of the Game. Teammate Jeff Manchester also scored 21 points, while Dominican's Jonathan Guzman scored 18 points to lead the Chargers (4-2).
The ECAC/Commerce Bank Classic concludes on Sunday with Dominican and Southern New Hampshire playing at 2:00 p.m. and the Cougars facing Franklin Pierce at 4:00 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on the internet via live streaming video at ECACSports.com.