WORCESTER, Mass. – The Caldwell University men's basketball team opened the new season with an impressive victory over host Assumption College, 75-68 in the Northeast 10 Conference Challenge Saturday night at Laska Gym. The win is the first over a Northeast 10 team since 2010 for the Cougars, who were 17-12 last season.

Caldwell led for the entire first half, building a 26-16 advantage following three-pointers by senior forward Michael Balkovic (Neptune, NJ/St. John Vianney), senior guard Kevin Walker (Bayonne, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) and junior guard Salvatore Vitello (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) at the 11-minute mark. A layup by freshman forward Daniel Knight (Newark, NJ/Patrick School) gave Caldwell a 30-18 edge with 9:16 left in the half. The lead was still 12, 43-31 when the Greyhounds scored a pair of baskets at the end of the half to make the halftime score 43-35 Cougars.

Caldwell maintained a double-digit lead through 10 minutes of the second half until Assumption made three straight baskets to cut the lead to 56-52 with 8:27 on the clock. A basket by Karl Ziegler at the five-minute mark made it a two-point game, 60-58. Junior forward Billy McDonald (North Haven, CT/North Haven) finally gave the Cougars some breathing room with a three-pointer that put Caldwell ahead, 65-60 with 3:17 to play. That proved to be too much to overcome for the Greyhounds, as they never came closer than four points the rest of the way.

Four Cougars scored in double-figures, led by Walker with 19 points to go with four assists and four rebounds. Balkovic finished with 14 points and a team-best nine rebounds, while McDonald had 12 points and junior guard Brian Kenny (Howell, NJ/Jackson Memorial) added 11 points. Ziegler led Assumption with 16 points and 10 boards.

Caldwell plays Stonehill College on the second day of the Northeast 10 Conference Challenge on Sunday, Nov. 16. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. in Assumption's Laska Gym.