Box Score
NEWARK, Del. – The Caldwell College men's basketball team fell to Wilmington University on the road, 81-73 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex. The Cougars drop to 7-18 overall and 3-13 in the conference with the loss, while the Wildcats improve to 5-18, 5-10 CACC.

Four points apiece from senior forward Karel Thuwis (Zonhoven, Belgium/Brehm Prep), sophomore guard Wyatt Polk (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) and freshman guard Dawan Lighty (Paterson, NJ/Kennedy) helped Caldwell jump out to a 16-5 lead over the game's first five minutes. The Cougars increased the lead to 29-16 midway through the first half before the Wildcats reeled off a 17-3 run to take a 33-32 edge at the 4:45 mark. Four points from sophomore forward Michael Balkovic (Neptune, NJ/St. John Vianney) and baskets by Thuwis and Polk allowed Caldwell to head into the break with a 40-35 lead.

Wilmington responded by starting the second half with an 11-4 run to pull ahead, 46-44. After the Cougars regained the upper hand on a basket by Lighty and two free throws from senior forward Kairo Rochford (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison), the Wildcats used an 8-1 run to go back on top, 54-49 at the 10:09 mark of the second half. Caldwell stayed close and pulled to within one, 62-61 with seven minutes left. But a 10-3 Wilmington run made the score 72-64 Wildcats with under four minutes to play, and the Cougars were unable to get closer than five points the rest of the way.

Polk led Caldwell with 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Lighty finished with 15 points. Rochford posted a career-high 14 points, and Balkovic had 10 points and seven boards. Brandon Fox tallied 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for Wilmington, who scored 22 points off 12 Caldwell turnovers.

Caldwell continues conference action on Tuesday, Feb. 19 with a game at Bloomfield College, beginning at 8:00 p.m.