BLOOMFIELD, N.J. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team reduced a 21-point deficit to two but was unable to overcome Bloomfield College in a 94-81 loss Tuesday night at the Bloomfield Gymnasium. The result gives the Cougars an overall record of 0-5, including a 0-2 mark in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. The Deacons are now 4-2 overall, 1-0 in league play.
 
Trailing 52-32 at the half, Caldwell fell behind 57-36 at the 16:15 mark before staging a comeback. Nine points from sophomore guard Don Trifari (Towaco, NJ/Paul Robeson) sparked an 18-5 run that cut the Deacons' lead to eight, 62-54 with just under 13 minutes to play. Bloomfield used seven free throws to help build its lead up to 75-59 with 9:19 on the clock. The Cougars refused to go away, as sophomore guard Malcolm Austin (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers) scored five points and senior forward Matt Cohen (Forked River, NJ/Manasquan) had four points to ignite a 14-0 spree to pull to within two, 75-73 with seven minutes left.

The comeback would stall at that point, however, as the Deacons tallied the next two baskets and out-scored Caldwell 19-8 the rest of the way. Guard Ahmad Harris scored six of his eight points down the stretch, as Bloomfield wrapped up its fourth straight win over the Cougars.

Cohen recorded career highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds while hitting 9-of-10 from the field. Trifari had his best outing as a Cougar with 16 points, while Austin finished with 15 points. Gage Daye made five three-pointers, all in the first half, en route to a game-high 22 points for Bloomfield. Matt Wafala pitched in 19 points for the Deacons, who made nine threes in the first half.
 
The Cougars play a non-conference game at Adelphi University on Saturday, Dec. 12. The game is set to start at 3:30 p.m. in Garden City, N.Y.