ORANGEBURG, N.Y. - Two free throws by senior guard Michael Wise (Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.) with nine seconds remaining allowed the Caldwell College men's basketball team to defeat Queens College, 69-67 at the Dominican College Tournament Thursday night at the Hennessy Center. The victory ends a seven-game losing streak for the Cougars (3-9), while the Knights drop to 2-9.
After Terrell Simmons' free throws put Queens ahead 67-65 with just under a minute to play, junior guard Carl Augustin (Stony Point, NY/Don Bosco Prep) made 1-of-2 from the line with 43 seconds on the clock. The Cougars forced a turnover with 26 seconds left, then Augustin was fouled again with 11 seconds remaining. He made the first to tie the game at 67-67 but missed the second. However, Wise grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled with nine seconds left. Wise drained both free throws for a 69-67 Caldwell lead. With time running down, Queens' Khaleef Allicott was fouled before time expired and went to the line with the opportunity to tie the game. But Allicott missed both free throws, clinching the Cougars' first win since a Dec. 5 triumph at Felician College.
The game remained close throughout, with 13 ties and eight lead changes. Queens shot 61.9 percent from the field to take a 40-35 advantage at halftime. Back-to-back three-pointers by senior guard Hans Stelzer (Selden, NY/Our Savior New American) and Wise put Caldwell on top 51-46 with 11 minutes remaining, but Queens came back to tie the game. With the game knotted at 61-61 with 3:39 left, two baskets by junior forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) gave the Cougars a 65-61 lead at the 2:32 mark. Again the Knights battled back, tying the game with four free throws, then taking a 67-65 advantage with Simmons' free throws with 57 seconds left.
Wise finished with 17 points to match his career high, set in the Cougars' Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference quarterfinal win at Goldey-Beacom last season. Senior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior New American) came off the bench to lead his team with 18 points and six rebounds. Perez, who went 17-of-17 from the line in Wednesday's loss to Bridgeport, did not attempt a free throw while scoring 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor. The Cougars, who as a team made all 25 attempts from the line Wednesday, shot 77.3 percent from the charity stripe compared to 67.9 percent for Queens. Caldwell also enjoyed a 35-26 rebounding advantage, allowing only three offensive rebounds on its defensive glass.
The Cougars look to continue their winning ways with a CACC match-up against Wilmington University on Saturday, Jan. 5. The home game is set to start at 3:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.
