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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team dropped a close Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest at Philadelphia University, 57-53 Saturday afternoon at the Rams' Athletic and Recreation Center. The defeat evens the Cougars' conference record at 9-9 (14-11 overall), while Philadelphia (19-7) remains atop the CACC with a 14-5 mark in conference play.

The Rams connected on 63.2 percent of their attempts from the field while holding Caldwell to 25.9 percent (7-of-27) shooting in the first half to take a 30-21 lead at halftime. Philadelphia took a 12-point lead after a pair of free throws by Russell Frederick made the score 43-31 with 12:40 remaining. The Cougars answered with a game-tying 12-0 run, sparked by seven points from senior guard Jean Georges (Vauxhal, NJ/Spotswood), pictured, that knotted the score at 43-43 with just under seven minutes to play.

Three-pointers by Frederick and Jason Hickenbottom allowed the Rams to regain the lead, 51-45 with 3:35 left. Junior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior) responded with a three of his own, only to have Hickenbottom return the favor and keep the Rams up six, 54-48 with just under two minutes on the clock. Georges made a pair of free throws to pull Caldwell back to within 54-50, but the Cougars came up empty on the offensive end of the court until Georges hit a three at the buzzer. Caldwell's defense tightened in the second half, allowing the Rams to shoot just 30.4 percent from the field, but it was not enough to prevent the Rams from sweeping the season series.

Georges finished with a game-high 21 points, including 18 in the second half, to lead Caldwell. Suchy scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while junior guard Hans Stelzer (Selden, NY/Our Savior) dished out five assists. Hickenbottom led the Rams with 18 points.

The Cougars host Nyack College on Tuesday, Feb. 20 in a game originally scheduled for Feb. 13. Game time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.