WALTHAM, Mass.- The Caldwell University men's basketball team fell in their season opener to the Merrimack College Warriors 91-69 in the CACC/NE-10 Challenge hosted by Bentley University.  The Cougars open the season at 0-1, while the Warriors improve to 1-0.

The Warriors took an early lead but the Cougars pulled even at 5-5 following a trifecta by senior Salvatore Vitello (Bridgewater, NJ). The Warriors pushed ahead by double digits at 27-10 near the halfway point and led 47-33 at the break.

In the second half, Caldwell senior Dawan Lighty (Paterson, NJ) drained a triple to cut the score to 11 points at 51-40 but the Warriors maintained a double digit lead the rest of the way.

For the Cougars, Lighty led the way with 16 points, while senior Billy McDonald (North Haven, CT) chipped in 15 points and three assists. Vitello tallied 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals, while junior Christian Ejiga (Laconia, NH) added five points and a team-best eight boards.

The Cougars wrap up their CACC/NE-10 Challenge on Saturday, November 14 when they will face host Bentley at 8 pm