CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team used an 11-2 run at the start of the second half to break open a close game en route to a 74-64 win over Nyack College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Wednesday night in the George R. Newman Center. The win gives the Cougars a 6-8 record on the year while evening their conference mark at 3-3 with their second victory over Nyack this season. The Warriors remain winless in the CACC at 0-7 and fall to 2-13 overall.
Nyack controlled the game early and built a 23-14 lead with just under five minutes left in the first half. A three-pointer by junior guard Anthony Gill (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) ignited a 16-4 Cougar run that was capped by a three and a buzzer-beating jumper from junior guard Derrick Ross (Newark, NJ/Newark Westside) that put Caldwell on top, 30-27 at the break. Ross led all players with nine points in the first half.
Momentum stayed with the hosts into the second half, as four points from junior guard Nik Otovic (Kraljevo, Serbia) and three from senior guard Dante Rollins (East Orange, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) helped Caldwell reel off an 11-2 run for a 41-29 advantage with 15:43 on the clock. Including the spree that closed out the first half, the Cougars outscored Nyack 27-6 to turn a nine-point deficit into a 12-point lead. Otovic made sure Caldwell stayed on top, hitting four straight baskets, including a pair of threes, that put the Cougars ahead 61-43 with six minutes left. Nyack was able to pull to within nine points in the final minute of the game, but it was not enough as Caldwell won its second straight game.
The Cougars dominated the boards 44-29 while grabbing 14 offensive rebounds compared to eight for Nyack. Caldwell also outscored the Warriors from the free throw line, 17-8. Otovic tallied 16 of his game-high 18 points in the second half, shooting 6-of-8 from the field after halftime while adding four assists and three steals for the game. Junior guard Don Trifari (Montville, NJ/Paul Robeson) scored 11 points off the bench, while senior forward Tyler Emmons (Portland, ME/Portland) and sophomore forward Karel Thuwis (Zonhoven, Belgium/Brehm Prep) each had seven rebounds. David Cerant led Nyack with 16 points.
Next up for Caldwell is a CACC game at Goldey-Beacom College on Saturday, Jan. 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Wilmington, Del.
