Box Score CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College men's basketball team fell to Bloomfield College, 89-81 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match-up Wednesday evening in the George R. Newman Center. The loss gives the Cougars a 5-8 record overall and a 1-4 mark in the conference, while the Deacons are now 6-5, 4-1 CACC.

Caldwell led early before six straight points from Bloomfield put the visitors ahead, 23-18 midway through the first half. The Deacons maintained the lead, eventually taking a 40-36 advantage into the halftime break. Both teams shot over 53 percent in the half, with sophomore guard Wyatt Polk (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) scoring 10 points for Caldwell and Matt Hall tallying 12 points for Bloomfield.

The Cougars tied the score at 40-40 on a basket by sophomore forward Michael Balkovic (Neptune, NJ/St. John Vianney) and two free throws from freshman guard Brian Kenny (Howell, NJ/Jackson Memorial). The Deacons answered with back-to-back threes from Bobby Brackett and Hall for a 46-40 lead three minutes into the second half. Caldwell pulled within one point twice, but Bloomfield held onto the lead each time. Following a three from Polk that made the score 69-66 Deacons with 7:25 on the clock, another three from Hall started a 13-5 run that put the game away.

Bloomfield made 10 three-pointers in the game compared to seven for Caldwell, and went 23-of-29 from the free throw line. Polk led the Cougars with 22 points while making four of his five three-point attempts. Balkovic registered a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and sophomore guard Kevin Walker (Bayonne, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) recorded 16 points, five assists and three steals. Senior forward Karel Thuwis (Zonhoven, Belgium/Brehm Prep) and freshman guard Dawan Lighty (Paterson, NJ/Kennedy) each scored 10 points to give Caldwell five players in double-figures. Thuwis also had eight rebounds.

Hall led all players with 29 points, making five of the Deacons' 10 threes. Kevin Udo added 12 rebounds.

The Cougars play a non-conference game at St. Michael's College on Sunday, Dec. 30, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Colchester, Vt.