Cougars Beat Mercy for First Victory of Season

Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Sophomore forward Michael Balkovic (Neptune, NJ/St. John Vianney) scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Caldwell College men's basketball team to an 85-80 victory over Mercy College in a non-conference game Wednesday night. The win is the first of the season for the Cougars, who are now 1-2. The Mavericks fall to 0-3 with the loss.

Balkovic tallied 15 of his points in the first half, as Caldwell built a 43-36 lead by halftime. The Cougars led by as many as 16 in the first period, as sophomore guard Wyatt Polk (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) hit three three-pointers en route to 13 first-half points.

A pair of baskets by sophomore guard Kevin Walker (Bayonne, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) and a three from senior forward Arthur Morrison (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) helped Caldwell extend the lead to 11, 52-41 with just over 17 minutes remaining. The Cougars maintained the upper hand and led by 10 with four minutes left when the Mavericks made a comeback, scoring nine of the next 11 points to make the score 81-78 with 1:12 on the clock. After the teams exchanged layups, Polk stole the ball and scored for an 85-80 lead. Mercy missed a pair of three-point attempts, and Caldwell defeated the Mavericks for the fifth year in a row.

As a team the Cougars shot 53.2 percent from the field and held a 43-37 rebounding edge. Mercy made 10 three-pointers and registered 13 steals.

Balkovic shot 12-of-20 from the field and added 11 rebounds and five assists for his second double-double in three games this season. Polk finished with 24 points and a career-best 10 rebounds while making four three-pointers. Morrison contributed 14 points, Walker had 10 points and freshman guard Brian Kenny (Howell, NJ/Jackson Memorial) recorded five assists and two steals. Joseph Pope led Mercy with 20 points.

Caldwell participates in the Daniel Sullivan Tournament at Dominican College on Saturday and Sunday. The Cougars play Assumption College on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and the University of Bridgeport on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in Orangeburg, N.Y.

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