CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team dropped a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game to visiting Goldey-Beacom College, 73-55 Saturday evening at the George R. Newman Center. The result evens the Cougars' conference record at 1-1 (2-3 overall), while the Lightning improve to 5-1 on the season, including a 1-0 mark in the CACC.
The first half remained close, with the lead changing hands 13 times. A pair of lay-ups by senior guard Adam Sabree (Detroit, MI/Renaissance) in the final two minutes of the half allowed the Cougars to take a 29-28 lead at halftime. After the teams exchanged baskets to open the second half, a three-pointer by Adrian Miles capped a 10-0 Goldey-Beacom run that put the Lightning up 40-31 at the 17-minute mark. Caldwell answered with three-pointers from senior guards Michael Wise (Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.) and Hans Stelzer (Selden, NY/Our Savior) that helped cut the deficit to three, 42-39, with just under 14 minutes to play.
Over the next 5:22, the Lightning proceeded to score 15 of the next 17 points to take control of the game with a 57-41 lead with 8:32 remaining. Miles had seven points in the run for Goldey-Beacom. The Cougars answered with six straight points to make the score 57-47 with just over seven minutes left, but that's as close as they would get the rest of the way. The Lightning took advantage of a 30-8 advantage in free throw attempts for the game, making 23 (75.0 percent). Goldey-Beacom also forced 21 Caldwell turnovers while committing just 11 miscues of its own.
Senior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior), pictured, was the only Caldwell player to score in double figures with 17 points. Sophomore forward Sam Cricelli (Brighton, England/Culham), who sat out most of the second half due to foul trouble, grabbed a team-best seven rebounds to go with eight points. Miles led all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field to pace the Lightning. He also had six steals.
Next up for Caldwell is a non-conference game at Adelphi University on Saturday, Dec. 15. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Garden City, N.Y.
