CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team shot 61.5 percent from the field in the second half to pull away from Holy Family University, 81-64 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest Saturday afternoon in the George R. Newman Center. The victory gives the Cougars a 7-10 record overall and a 4-5 mark in league play, while the Tigers drop to 4-15, 2-7 CACC.
Caldwell took control of a close game in the first half, using a pair of threes from junior guards Nik Otovic (Kraljevo, Serbia) and Don Trifari (Montville, NJ/Paul Robeson) sandwiched around a basket by senior forward Tyler Emmons (Portland, ME/Portland) that put the Cougars on top, 30-20 with 6:17 on the clock. The lead remained 10 until a free throw by Tim Smith with one second left made the halftime score 35-26 Caldwell. The Cougars outscored the Tigers 18-8 in the paint, and held a 17-11 rebounding advantage in the first half.
Momentum stayed with Caldwell into the second half, as Otovic and junior guard Derrick Ross (Newark, NJ/Newark Westside) scored six points apiece in a 16-6 run that put the Cougars ahead 51-32 with 13:41 remaining. The lead grew to as many as 25 points following a conventional three-point play by sophomore guard Robert McPherson (Bowie, MD/Bullis) that made the score 68-43 Caldwell with eight minutes left. The Tigers were unable to come within 20 points until the 3:19 mark, as the Cougars cruised to their fourth conference win of the season. Caldwell made 16-of-26 from the field in the second half and shot 53.6 percent for the game, while holding Holy Family to 39.0 percent shooting.
Otovic, pictured, led all players with 18 points, as four Cougars scored in double figures. Ross finished with a career-high 15 points to go with six rebounds, McPherson had 11 points and senior forward Antonio Brimley (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Eastside) tallied 10 points, six boards and two blocks. Emmons also had six rebounds to go with six points off the bench. Caldwell dished out 20 assists for the game, with junior guard Anthony Gill (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) and freshman guard Patrick O'Connell (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) each recording four assists. Rashaad Sneed led the Tigers with 11 points.
The Cougars return to action on Thursday, Feb. 3 with another CACC home game against Felician College. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. in the Newman Center.
