PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team lost a hard-fought non-conference game to Pace University, 83-73 in overtime Saturday night in the final game of the Pace Tournament. The Cougars (2-8) led 69-66 with six seconds left, only to have Pace's Desmond Quincy-Jones tie the game with a three-pointer at the buzzer and send the game to overtime. The Setters (5-6) out-scored Caldwell 14-4 in the extra session to complete the comeback.

Trailing 63-58 with just 3:27 remaining in regulation, the Cougars tied the game with a three-pointer by sophomore forward Sam Cricelli (Brighton, England/Culham) and a basket by senior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior New American) on consecutive possessions. After Pace missed a three-pointer, senior guard Michael Wise (Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.) scored with 1:22 left to put Caldwell ahead, 65-63. Pace's Laurence McGhee made two free throws to tie the game at 65-65, then Cricelli's basket with 39 seconds on the clock restored the Cougars' lead at 67-65. Following a made free throw by Quincy-Jones and a missed free throw by Wise, McGhee missed the go-ahead basket. Junior forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) grabbed the rebound and was fouled, making both free throws for a 69-66 lead with just six seconds remaining. Quincy-Jones let fly a three-point shot from the top of the key as time expired, and it found the mark to send the game to overtime.

Pace shot 51.6 percent from the field in the first half to take a 40-32 halftime lead. The lead would grow to 12 in the second half before Caldwell reeled off a 23-7 run to grab a 55-51 advantage with 7:39 remaining. In overtime, Ryan Williams scored six points and Quincy-Jones had four as the Setters never trailed in the extra session.

Perez, pictured, led the Cougars with a season-high 16 points and eight rebounds to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. Wise finished with 13 points and Suchy recorded 11 points, five rebounds and four assists. Williams and Quincy-Jones each tallied 20 points for Pace.

The Cougars participate in their fourth tournament of the season next week at Dominican College on Jan. 2-3. Caldwell plays the University of Bridgeport on Wednesday before facing Queens College on Thursday. Both games start at 6:00 p.m. at the Hennessy Center in Orangeburg, N.Y.