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CALDWELL, N.J. - A conventional three-point play by senior guard Carl Augustin (Stony Point, NY/Don Bosco Prep) with 18.6 seconds remaining allowed the Caldwell College men's basketball team to defeat Chestnut Hill College, 86-83 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest Tuesday evening in the George R. Newman Center. The victory gives the Cougars a 7-8 overall record, including a 3-1 mark in conference play, while the Griffins fall to 3-14, 2-4 CACC.
After a lay-up and free throw by Augustin put Caldwell ahead 82-78 with just over two minutes to play, a three-pointer by Julian McFadden and a lay-up from Marcus Hardy gave Chestnut Hill an 83-82 lead with 34 seconds on the clock. Following a timeout, Augustin received the inbounds pass from junior guard Eddie Crockett (Passaic, NJ/Passaic), scored and was fouled. He made the ensuing free throw for an 85-83 Caldwell advantage with 18.6 seconds left. The Griffins committed an offensive foul on their next possession, followed by another Augustin free throw for an 86-83 lead. Then Crockett stole the inbounds pass and was fouled, but he missed both free throws. McFadden's desperation three-point attempt with less than a second to play was short, clinching the win for Caldwell.
The lead changed hands 19 times in the first half, with neither team leading by more than four points. A basket by Dan Comas with under a minute remaining in the half allowed the Griffins to take a 37-36 lead into halftime. Five straight points by senior forward Manny Perez (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.), pictured, helped the Cougars open the second half with a 10-2 run to take a 46-39 lead. That is the largest lead of the game for either team, as Chestnut Hill answered with six straight points to make the score 46-45 Caldwell with just under 16 minutes to play. Caldwell maintained the upper hand until a three by McFadden capped an 8-2 run that put the visiting Griffins ahead 72-67 with 6:11 left. A pair of conventional three-point plays and a slam dunk by Perez helped the Cougars regain the lead by the two-minute mark, setting up the exciting finish.
The game was called closely, as the teams were whistled for a combined 53 fouls. Four of Chestnut Hill's five starters fouled out, as the Griffins drew 32 total fouls for the game. Both teams shot the ball well, with Chestnut Hill making 50.0 percent from the floor and the Cougars hitting 46.7 percent.
Perez finished with a career-high 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field and 13-of-17 from the line. He also had 14 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season. Twenty-three of his 35 points came in the second half. Augustin added 14 points, four rebounds and two steals, while Crockett had 11 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals. McFadden, the only Chestnut Hill starter not to foul out, hit five threes en route to a team-best 16 points. David Goode finished with 15 points and eight rebounds in a losing effort.
The Cougars are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 24 with a conference game at Nyack College. The tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Nyack, N.Y.
