WATERBURY, Conn. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team used a late rally to pull away from Post University, 83-77 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Tuesday evening at the Drubner Center. The win is the Cougars' second in a row and gives them a 2-9 overall record, including a 1-2 mark in conference play. The Eagles drop to 4-9, 0-4 CACC with the loss.

Trailing by as many as nine points in the second half, Caldwell used a 10-2 run, including five points from sophomore guard Malcolm Austin (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers), to erase a seven-point deficit and take a 70-69 lead with just over three minutes to play. After a pair of free throws by Trevon Hamlet briefly gave Post a one-point lead, back-to-back baskets by Austin put the Cougars ahead 74-71 with 2:13 on the clock. Caldwell scored on nine of its final 10 possessions while holding Post to three free throws and a late three-pointer over the final two minutes of the game to clinch its second straight victory.

The first half remained close, with six lead changes and three ties. Baskets by senior guard John Reed (Wall, NJ/Wall) and junior forward Tyler Emmons (Portland, ME/Portland) broke a 29-29 tie and sent the Cougars into halftime with a 33-29 lead. A three by Reed, pictured, and a conventional three-point play from sophomore center Peter Diffley (Bellerose, NY/Episcopal) helped Caldwell extend its lead to 41-35 with 16:47 remaining in the second half. The Eagles responded with a 10-0 run ignited by a three from Nyheem Sanders that put Post on top 45-41. After the Cougars pulled to within two, 51-49 following a basket by freshman Robert McPherson (Bowie, MD/Bullis), the Eagles took their largest lead of the game with an 8-1 run that made the score 59-50 with 8:48 to play. But they could not hold off the visiting Cougars, who earned their first CACC win of the season.

Caldwell finished strong offensively, making 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from the field in the second half. The Cougars also earned a significant advantage on the glass, out-rebounding Post 47-34 for the game while grabbing 18 offensive boards.

Austin scored a season-high 21 points while dishing out seven assists to lead Caldwell. Diffley went 5-of-6 from the floor and finished with 12 points, with sophomore guard Nik Otovic (Kraljevo, Serbia) adding nine points, six rebounds and four assists. Freshman guard Cameron Badger (Trenton, NJ/Living Faith Christian) swiped four of Caldwell's 10 steals to set a career high. Hamlet tallied 19 points and 12 boards to lead Post.

The Cougars host Felician College on Thursday, Jan. 7 in another CACC North Division battle. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.