CALDWELL, N.J. - Sophomore guard Malcolm Austin (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers) scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Caldwell College men's basketball team to a 93-76 triumph over Goldey-Beacom College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Saturday evening in the George R. Newman Center. The win ends a four-game losing skid for the Cougars, who are now 3-13 overall and 2-6 in the conference. The Lightning, who entered the game unbeaten in league play and riding a four-game winning streak, drop to 12-4, 6-1 CACC.
Caldwell took control of the game early, breaking a 6-6 tie with an 18-0 spree that included seven points from Austin and six points from junior guard Antonio Brimley (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Eastside). The Cougars made 7-of-8 from the field while holding the Lightning scoreless on five attempts in building a 24-6 lead with 12 minutes left in the first half. The lead grew to as many as 20 before Goldey-Beacom was able to reduce the deficit to 15, 45-30 at the break. The Cougars shot 54.5 percent while committing just six turnovers compared to 11 for the Lightning in the first half.
The second half was more of the same, with Goldey-Beacom unable to come any closer than 15 points. A basket by Brimley and six consecutive free throws from freshman guard Robert McPherson (Bowie, MD/Bullis) sparked an 8-0 run that helped the Cougars record their largest lead of the game, 76-52 with just under nine minutes to play. Caldwell shot even better in the second half, making 15-of-23 (65.2 percent), and also excelled at the free throw line. In a game that saw the teams combine for 66 free throws and 52 fouls, the Cougars converted 25-of-29 (86.2 percent) from the line for the game compared to 25-of-37 (67.6 percent) for Goldey-Beacom. Caldwell's 11 turnovers are a season low.
Austin hit all 10 of his free throw attempts en route to a career-high 27 points. Brimley and sophomore center Peter Diffley (Bellerose, NY/Episcopal) also achieved career highs with 19 points apiece, with Diffley shooting a perfect 9-of-9 from the field to go with a team-best seven rebounds. Brimley also had three blocks and two steals. Junior guard Dante Rollins (East Orange, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) turned in a solid performance with 11 points, four assists and two steals, while freshman guard Cameron Badger (Trenton, NJ/Living Faith Christian), pictured, registered career-highs of eight points and five assists. Kyle White paced the Lightning with 21 points.
The Cougars play at Nyack College on Thursday, Jan. 28 in another CACC contest. Game time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. in Nyack, N.Y.
