CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team ended a three-game losing streak with a 66-55 victory over Post University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest Wednesday evening in the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars (6-12 overall) even their conference record at 4-4 while pulling to within a game of the North Division-leading Eagles, who fall to 8-9 overall, 5-3 CACC.
The game remained close in the first half with five ties and 10 lead changes. With the game tied at 26-26 with three minutes left in the half, two free throws by freshman guard Dante Rollins (East Orange, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) and a basket by senior guard Adam Sabree (Detroit, MI/Renaissance) put Caldwell ahead 30-26 with just over a minute before halftime. Post's Peter Lawal answered, converting a conventional three-point play to make the score 30-29 Caldwell at the break. The Cougars shot 52.4 percent in the half, led by senior guard Michael Wise (Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.), who scored 13 points while making 3-of-5 from three-point range.
The game remained tight in the second half with four ties in the first seven minutes. Trailing 40-38 with 13:46 on the clock, the Cougars scored the next seven points to take a 45-40 advantage midway through the second half. Back-to-back baskets from senior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior New American) brought the Cougar lead to 56-47 with 3:24 left. After Arthur Robertson's conventional three-point play, Sabree hit a three-pointer and Wise made two free throws to make the score 61-50 with two minutes remaining. Post never came closer than eight points the rest of the way, as Caldwell won for the first time since Jan. 8.
The Cougars made 51.1 percent of their field goal attempts for the game while holding Post to 35.5 percent. The shooting disparity and a 43-26 rebounding advantage helped Caldwell overcome18 turnovers and 60.0 percent shooting from the line. Wise finished the game with 17 points to match his career high. Suchy scored 11 points, with sophomore forward Tyler Emmons (Portland, ME/Portland), pictured, grabbing a career-best eight boards to go with five points. Rollins also achieved a career high with eight points. Robertson led the Eagles with 14 points and five rebounds.
Caldwell returns to action next Wednesday, Jan. 30 with a home CACC game against Dominican College. The North Division battle begins at 8:00 p.m. in the Newman Center.
