CALDWELL, N.J. - Seniors Carl Augustin (Stony Point, NY/Don Bosco Prep) and Manny Perez (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) combined to score 52 points as the Caldwell College men's basketball team defeated Post University, 90-85 in a clash between Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division foes Tuesday evening in the George R. Newman Center. The victory avenged the Cougars' 21-point loss to the Eagles in Waterbury, Conn., a week ago, improving their overall record to 9-10 (5-3 CACC). The Eagles (11-8 overall) fall into third place in the division behind Caldwell with a 5-4 conference mark.
The victory was also significant for Caldwell head coach Mark Corino, who earned his 450th career win. Corino, who is in his 21st year at Caldwell and 27th overall, is the winningest active men's college basketball coach in the state of New Jersey.
Post led for the majority of the first half and took a 35-30 lead into halftime. The Eagles forced nine Caldwell turnovers and out-scored their hosts 12-4 in points off turnovers in the first half. A basket early in the second half expanded Post's lead to seven before the Cougars mounted a comeback. Eight points each from Augustin and freshman guard Malcolm Austin (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Acad.) allowed Caldwell to reel off a 20-2 run and grab a commanding 50-39 lead with 13:17 remaining. Post committed four turnovers and went 1-of-8 from the field during the run. The Cougars maintained control of the game and held a seemingly safe 72-56 lead with four minutes left in the game.
But the Eagles did not go away, as AJ Reitter scored five points to spark a 12-3 run that made the score 75-68 Caldwell with 2:42 to play. Solid free throw shooting kept the Cougars on top down the stretch, taking an 83-74 advantage with 40 seconds left. Again Post did not quit, getting three-pointers from Cecil Stinson and Rob McClain. After Stinson hit three free throws after being fouled beyond the arc, Post was just three points back, 86-83 with 20 seconds remaining. Junior guard John Reed (Wall, NJ/Wall) and Augustin came up big at the line in the game's waning moments to clinch the win for Caldwell. The Cougars went 30-of-34 (88.2 percent) from the free throw line in the second half alone to halt the Post comeback.
Perez finished with a game-high 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field and 8-of-10 from the line. He also grabbed eight rebounds to tie Augustin for the team lead. Augustin, pictured, tallied a career-best 24 points while making all 12 of his attempts from the charity stripe. Austin notched his second straight 15-point game, hitting a pair of threes along the way. Stinson paced the Eagles with 25 points and five three-pointers. Reitter finished with 15 points and six boards.
Caldwell returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 7, when the Cougars face the University of the Sciences in a CACC game in Philadelphia, Penn. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
