PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - A 14-foot jumper by Khiry Hankins with nine seconds remaining lifted Holy Family University to a 78-76 win over the Caldwell College men's basketball team in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Campus Center. With the loss, the Cougars drop to 3-15 overall and 2-8 in league play. The Tigers are now 1-17, 1-8 CACC.
Holy Family took its largest lead of the game on a basket by Ismaila Traore at the 13:12 mark of the second half that made the score 62-45. The Cougars responded by starting their comeback with 12 straight points, capped by a three-pointer from sophomore guard Malcolm Austin (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers), to cut the deficit to 62-57. The string sparked a 16-2 Caldwell run, led by seven points from junior guard Antonio Brimley (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Eastside), that made it a three-point game, 64-61 with 9:24 on the clock. The Cougars forced seven Holy Family turnovers while swiping four steals in the run.
The Tigers were able to build the lead back up to eight points after a conventional three-point play by Justin Swidowski put Holy Family ahead 72-64 with just under five minutes to play. A steal and breakaway dunk by Brimley ignited a 10-2 run that tied the game at the one-minute mark, 74-74. Swidowski and Austin each hit a pair of free throws, giving possession to the Tigers with 24 seconds left and the game tied at 76-76. Hawkins dribbled towards the basket then pulled up to the right of the lane and hit a 14-foot jumper for a 78-76 lead. After a timeout, freshman Cameron Badger (Trenton, NJ/Living Faith Christian) drove towards the basket but Swidowski blocked his shot at the buzzer to preserve the win.
Holy Family took advantage of a big half by Swidowski to lead by as many as 15 points in the first half en route to a 45-31 advantage at halftime. Caldwell cut the lead to nine early in the second half before an 11-3 run by the Tigers extended their lead to 62-45.
Caldwell forced 20 Holy Family turnovers while committing a season-low nine miscues for the game. The Tigers owned the boards with a 41-26 rebounding advantage and made 87.5 percent from the free throw line (28-32) compared to 14-of-22 (63.6 percent) for Caldwell. Austin tallied 15 points and five rebounds to lead the Cougars, while Brimley (pictured) finished with 14 points and three steals. Badger (four assists) and senior guard John Reed (Wall, NJ/Wall) (three three-pointers) each scored 10 points. Swidowski recorded 35 points and 10 rebounds while making 19-of-20 from the charity stripe. Hankins hit four three-pointers en route to 22 points for Holy Family.
The Cougars host Dominican College on Tuesday, Feb. 2, beginning at 8:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.
