CALDWELL, N.J. - Molloy College erased a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat the Caldwell College men's basketball team, 72-67 in the first game of the season for both teams Saturday afternoon in the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars open the 2008-09 campaign 0-1, while the Lions, who play in the East Coast Conference, are 1-0.
The Cougars scored the games first eight points, including three-pointers from senior guard Carl Augustin (Stony Point, NY/Don Bosco Prep) and junior guard Eddie Crockett (Passaic, NJ/Passaic), and would lead for the entire first half. A pair of free throws by sophomore guard Dante Rollins (East Orange, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) with a minute left in the half gave the Cougars a 35-29 advantage at the break. Caldwell started fast in the second half as well, as five points from junior guard Jason Wilson (Hillside, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) and a jumper by senior center Michael Luzzi (Ledgewood, NJ/Morris Catholic) put the Cougars ahead 42-29 less than a minute into the second period.
But Molloy quickly overcame the deficit, taking advantage of six Caldwell turnovers and reeling off 13 straight points to tie the game at 42-42 with 15 minutes remaining. Tolulade Jegede scored five points and Girard Fitts had a pair of dunks off steals during the run. The Cougars responded with an 8-2 run for a 50-44 lead with 13:19 on the clock. But five more turnovers allowed the Lions to take their first lead of the game with an 8-1 run for a 52-51 lead at the 11-minute mark. Caldwell briefly regained the lead on a pair of Luzzi free throws, but Molloy took control of the game with a 14-2 spree that put the Lions on top 66-55 with five minutes to play. Fitts tallied nine points during the key run for Molloy. Caldwell scored eight unanswered points in the game's final two minutes, but it was not enough as the Cougars lost their season opener for the first time since 2005. The Cougars turned the ball over 19 times in the second half to finish with 28 miscues on the day.
Wilson finished with a team-best 19 points and five assists to go with six rebounds in his first game as a Cougar. Augustin had 10 points, while Luzzi, pictured, grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds to go with seven points and two blocks. Fitts tallied 23 points for Molloy, with Matt Wafula recording 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Brian Hutchinson registering 15 points and 12 boards in the win.
The Cougars head to Colorado to face Regis University on Wednesday, Nov. 19, before participating in the Colorado School of Mines Tournament on Nov. 21-22.
