CALDWELL, N.J. - Senior guard Jean Georges (Vauxhal, NJ/Spotswood) scored a career-high 34 points to pace the Caldwell College men's basketball team to a 73-54 victory over Nyack College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Tuesday night in the George R. Newman Center. The win clinches a spot in the CACC Tournament for the Cougars, who are now 15-11 overall and 10-9 in the conference. The Warriors drop to 9-16 on the season, including a 7-11 mark in the CACC.
Caldwell broke open a close game in the first half with 11 straight points, capped by a three from Georges, that put the Cougars ahead 24-12 at the seven-minute mark. Another three-pointer from Georges just as the halftime buzzer sounded gave Caldwell a 37-17 advantage at the break. Georges, who also opened the game with a three, was 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and finished with 18 first-half points.
Nyack fought back in the second half, cutting the deficit to 12, 43-31 with 14 minutes to play. But the Cougars ran away from the Warriors, answering with 11 straight points to take a 54-31 lead with 12 minutes left. The lead would grow to as many as 26 points as Caldwell completed the series sweep of the Warriors while wrapping up its third straight bid to the CACC Tournament, which begins next Tuesday. The win also ensures Caldwell head coach Mark Corino of his third consecutive winning season and 15th in 19 seasons as coach of the Cougars.
Georges made all 12 of his free throw attempts and 4-of-7 from three-point range en route to 34 points. He tops his previous career best of 29 points, set last season in a win at Dominican College on Jan. 12. Junior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior) was the only other Cougar to score in double-figures with 10 points, while freshman forward Sam Cricelli (Brighton, England) grabbed nine rebounds to pace Caldwell.
The Cougars complete their regular-season schedule on Saturday, Feb. 24 with a home game against Goldey-Beacom College. The game also marks the final game in the Newman Center for Georges, the team's only senior. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m.
