CALDWELL, N.J. - After 40 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods, the Caldwell College men's basketball team outlasted Chestnut Hill College, 76-74 in the Cougars' final game of the 2010-11 season Friday evening in the George R. Newman Center. The victory ends Caldwell's season with a 10-16 overall record, including a 7-11 mark in league play. The Griffins, who will play in next week's CACC Tournament after finishing third in the CACC South, are now 11-15, 8-9 CACC.
With the score tied at 55-55 in the final minute of regulation, junior guard Anthony Gill (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) hit a 10-foot jumper to put the Cougars ahead with 37 seconds left. Chestnut Hill's Brandon Williams grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to tie the game at 57-57 with 17 seconds on the clock. A lay-up by junior guard Nik Otovic (Kraljevo, Serbia) was off the mark, sending the game into overtime. In the first overtime period, the Griffins built a 64-61 advantage with a minute left before sophomore forward Arthur Morrison (Phillipsburg, NJ/APEX) hit a pair of free throws to make it a one-point game. After Uros Kovacevic went 1-of-2 from the line, Gill drove to the basket, drew a foul and made both of his free throws to tie the score at 65-65. Williams' three-point attempt did not drop, and the game went to a second overtime period.
Five straight points from Otovic, including a conventional three-point play, allowed Caldwell to lead 72-68 with less than three minutes left in the period. The Griffins cut the lead to one, 74-73 at the two-minute mark, then senior guard Dante Rollins (East Orange, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) was fouled and made both free throws for a 76-73 lead with 35 seconds to play. After Williams was fouled on the next possession, he made the first free throw but missed the second with 19 seconds left. Caldwell grabbed the rebound but turned the ball over, giving the visitors a final chance to tie with six seconds remaining. Francis Ashe drove to the basket from the right side but his lay-up bounced off the rim, ending the game in the Cougars' favor.
Caldwell shot 60.0 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the line in the two overtime periods, while the Griffins made just 4-of-10 from the charity stripe after regulation and 53.3 percent for the game. Morrison, pictured, scored a team-best 17 points to go with six rebounds, while Otovic and junior guard Derrick Ross (Newark, NJ/Newark Westside) each had 14 points. Sophomore forward Karel Thuwis (Zonhoven, Belgium/Brehm Prep) tallied a double-double with 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in a solid effort, and Gill added 11 points. Williams finished with 21 points, four assists and four steals for Chestnut Hill, with Dan Comas registering 18 points and 13 rebounds.
