Box Score
CALDWELL, N.J. – The Caldwell College men's basketball team saw its late comeback attempt fall short in an 82-80 loss to visiting Post University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game Tuesday evening at the George R. Newman Center. The defeat gives the Cougars a 13-9 record on the season, including a 9-6 mark in the conference. The Eagles are now 9-13 overall and 9-6 in the CACC, tying Caldwell for third in the CACC North.

With Post leading, 78-71 with 1:18 remaining in the game, a basket by junior forward Michael Balkovic (Neptune, NJ/St. John Vianney) and two free throws by sophomore forward Billy McDonald (North Haven, CT/North Haven) made it a three-point game, 78-75 with less than a minute to play. After Derrick Strong went 1-of-2 from the line, sophomore guard Salvatore Vitello (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) picked up a loose ball at the top of the key and drained a three-pointer to make the score 79-78 Post with 32 seconds left.

After Effrin Ellison made two free throws, Vitello was fouled and hit the first free throw. The second was off the mark, and Balkovic grabbed the rebound. But his shot was blocked by Josh Tatum, preserving the Eagles' two-point lead. On the next possession, Devin Willis went to the line and made the first but missed the second. Vitello was fouled with 2.8 seconds left and Caldwell trailing 82-79. After making the first free throw, Vitello intentionally missed the second. McDonald pounced on the rebound and put up a shot from eight feet out, but the ball bounced off the rim as the final buzzer sounded.

The first half was close, with five ties and 14 lead changes. Caldwell shot 53.3 percent from the field and took a 42-41 lead at the half. Junior guard Kevin Walker (Bayonne, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) scored 12 points and Balkovic had 10 points and seven boards in the first period.

The game went back and forth in the second half with three lead changes until Post broke a 68-68 tie at the 5:22 mark with a 10-3 run that put the Eagles ahead, 78-71 with 1:18 to play. But the result was not determined until McDonald's shot did not drop as time ran out.

Both teams shot 48.4 percent from the field for the game, while Caldwell held a 40-31 edge in rebounding. Post made 12 threes compared to six for the Cougars, who also shot 66.7 percent from the free throw line compared to 80.0 percent for the Eagles.

Walker led Caldwell with 21 points, with Balkovic contributing 19 points and 15 rebounds. Sophomore forward Terik Bridgeman (Harlem, NY/Nia Prep) scored 12 points, and McDonald added 10 points. Ellison came off the bench to score 16 points for Post, which also received 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocks from Tatum.

Caldwell hosts Goldey-Beacom College on Saturday, Feb. 15, beginning at 3:00 p.m. in the Newman Center.