CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team closed out the ECAC Holiday Classic with a thrilling 77-75 overtime win over Queens College Sunday evening at the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars won both of their games at the ECAC Holiday Classic to even their record at 5-5, while the Knights dropped to 2-8 on the season.

Trailing 66-60 with 2:27 left in regulation, junior guard Eddie Crockett (Passaic, NJ/Passaic) nailed a three-pointer to cut the Knights' lead to 66-63. Junior forward Sam Cricelli (Brighton, England/Culham) answered a pair of free throws by Khaleef Allicott with a jumper from the right side to make the score 68-65 with under two minutes to play. After senior forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) blocked Allicott's shot on the next possession, senior guard Carl Augustin (Stony Point, NY/Don Bosco Prep) grabbed the rebound of Crockett's missed three-pointer, scored and was fouled. He made the ensuing free throw to tie the game at 68-68 with 1:13 remaining. Mike Liander's free throws with just over a minute left put Queens on top 70-68, but Perez tied the game with a lay-up with 45 seconds left. Neither team scored on their last possessions in regulation, sending the game to overtime.

Free throws by Augustin and Allicott provided the scoring in the first 2:30 of overtime as the teams remained tied 72-72. Cricelli went 1-of-2 from the line to put Caldwell up 73-72. Following a costly Queens turnover, Cricelli hit Perez with a long pass that resulted in a breakaway dunk for a 75-72 Caldwell lead with 1:14 on the clock. After a missed three-pointer by Queens, freshman guard Nik Otovic (Kraljevo, Serbia) scored on a driving lay-up to put the Cougars ahead 77-72 with less than a minute to play. Liander answered with a three-pointer with 18 seconds left to make the score 77-75. Following a missed Caldwell free throw, Liander had an opportunity to tie the game before the buzzer, but his shot rimmed out as time expired.

Cricelli was named the Player of the Game after registering 12 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Perez led Caldwell in scoring with 18 points to go with eight rebounds. Crockett finished with 15 points, five assists and a steal, while Augustin had 12 points and seven rebounds. Liander hit five threes to lead all scorers with 31 points. Queens also received 17 points, seven assists and five steals from Allicott, who was a perfect 12-of-12 from the line.

Felician College also won both of its games at the ECAC Holiday Classic, defeating Mercy College 82-65 in today's other men's game. Ryan Moseley was selected the Player of the Game for Felician, which beat Queens 73-70 on Saturday.

The Cougars return to action when they play in the Gannon University Tournament, which will be held Dec. 29-30 in Erie, Penn.