CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team shot 72.2 percent from the field in the second half to defeat Dominican College, 79-65 in the quarterfinals of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament Saturday afternoon in the George R. Newman Center. The win gives the Cougars a 12-16 overall record and advances them into the semifinals of the CACC Tournament. The Chargers end their season at 13-15.

As a result of Bloomfield's upset of CACC North Division-champion Post, Caldwell is the highest remaining seed in the North and will host Holy Family University in the semifinals on Wednesday, Mar. 5, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

The first half remained close until the final four minutes. With Dominican ahead 22-20, the Cougars closed out the half with a 14-3 run that included three-pointers by sophomore guard Eddie Crockett (Passaic, NJ/Passaic) and junior guard Carl Augustin (Stony Point, NY/Don Bosco Prep), and four points from senior forward B.J. Suchy (Ronkonkoma, NY/Our Savior New American). Crockett and junior forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) each scored eight points in the half to help Caldwell take a 34-25 halftime lead.

The Cougars stayed hot in the second half, jumping out to a 46-30 advantage with a 10-5 spree, buoyed by five points apiece from Crockett and Suchy. Dominican came within 10 points twice, but a 16-5 Caldwell run swung momentum in favor of the Cougars, who led 66-45 midway through the second half. The Cougars extended the lead to 23 points before the Chargers pulled to within 12 points twice, including 77-65 with a minute on the clock. But it wasn't enough, as Caldwell went on to win the game by a 14-point margin.

The Cougars hit 13-of-18 from the floor in the second half, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, to maintain the upper hand. Dominican struggled from long range, making just one three-pointer in 21 attempts for the game. Perez, left, made 7-of-8 from the field en route to a game-high 20 points for Caldwell. Suchy and Crockett, right, finished with 16 and 13 points, respectively, while sophomore forward Sam Cricelli (Brighton, England/Culham) grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go with 10 points. Brandon Brock scored 17 points to pace Dominican.

Caldwell, the 2007 CACC Tournament champions, continues its title defense on Wednesday, Mar. 5, with a semifinal match-up against Holy Family University, a 73-71 winner over Goldey-Beacom College in its quarterfinal game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.

CACC Men's Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals, Mar. 1
No. 2N Caldwell 79, No. 3N Dominican 65
No. 4N Bloomfield 90, No. 1N Post 85, (2OT)
No. 1S Philadelphia 65, No. 4S USP 44
No. 2S Holy Family 73, No. 3S Goldey-Beacom 71

Semifinals, Wednesday, Mar. 5
No. 2S Holy Family at No. 2N Caldwell, 7:00 p.m.
No. 4N Bloomfield at No. 1S Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m.

Finals, Saturday, Mar. 8
Semifinals winners at highest remaining seed