BRONXVILLE, N.Y. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team fell to Concordia College, 66-58 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match-up Thursday evening at the Meyer Athletic Center. The loss extends the Cougars' losing streak to eight games and drops their record to 3-21, 2-13 CACC. The Clippers are now 6-18, 6-9 CACC after completing the season sweep of Caldwell.
Concordia led for almost the whole first half, building an 18-7 lead with an early 13-3 run sparked by seven points from Kenneth Gaskins. The Cougars used a three-pointer and two free throws by senior guard John Reed (Wall, NJ/Wall) for an 8-2 run that cut the deficit to 24-20 with 2:19 left in the half. But Brandon Whitaker closed out the half with a lay-up and a three to send the Clippers into halftime with a 29-20 advantage. Concordia enjoyed a 24-10 rebounding edge in the first period, including nine on the offensive glass.
A pair of baskets by junior guard Antonio Brimley (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Eastside) and a three-pointer from sophomore guard Malcolm Austin (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers) pulled the Cougars to within four, 31-27 at the 17:47 mark. But Whitaker answered with a three of his own to ignite a 10-2 spree to extend the lead to 41-29 with 15:14 to play. Still trailing by 11 midway through the second half, Caldwell mounted a comeback by scoring 12 straight points to take the lead, 53-52 with 5:24 on the clock. Reed hit another three and made four free throws in the run, all following two technical fouls assessed to the Concordia bench. Freshman guard Robert McPherson (Bowie, MD/Bullis) made the basket that put the Cougars ahead for the first time since the third minute of the game.
Brimley answered a basket by William Eason with one free throw to tie the game at 54-54 with 4:35 remaining. The Clippers then scored the next seven points, including a three-pointer from Douglas Soutar, to lead 61-54 with under two minutes to play. Caldwell never recovered, getting no closer than five points the rest of the way to remain winless since a 93-76 victory over Goldey-Beacom College on Jan. 23.
Reed (pictured) finished with a career-high 14 points while making 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Brimley registered 15 points and six rebounds to lead the Cougars in both categories. Concordia's Whitaker led all players with 17 points, while Eason and Argelix Gil grabbed 12 and 11 rebounds, respectively to help the Clippers out-rebound Caldwell 41-25 for the game.
The Cougars continue CACC play with a home game against Wilmington University on Saturday, Feb. 20, beginning at 8:00 p.m. in the George R. Newman Center.
