SYRACUSE, N.Y.- Senior Billy McDonald (North Haven, CT) netted a career-high 28 points but the Caldwell University men's basketball team came up short 80-74 to the Le Moyne College Dolphins in overtime.
 
The Cougars fall to 4-8 on the season, while the Dolphins improve to 5-5.
 
The teams traded leads and ties over the first 12 minutes of the game. The Cougars pulled ahead over the final eight minutes of the opening half. The Dolphins led by two at the 8:34 mark but Caldwell answered with a 9-2 run to take a five point lead. Senior Dawan Lighty (Paterson, NJ) capped the rally with a triple at the 2:11 mark to put the Cougars up 25-20. The teams traded buckets as Caldwell led 27-23 at halftime.
 
Caldwell added to their lead early in the second half as McDonald converted a three-point play to put the Cougars ahead 32-26 with 18:01 left in regulation. The Dolphins chipped away as they took a two point lead at the 13:07 mark of the second half.
 
McDonald knotted the score at 43-43 but the Dolphins went on a 13-3 run to go up 56-46 with 8:02 remaining in the second half.  The Cougars rallied down the stretch as McDonald and freshman Ahmad Harrison (Newark, NJ) sparked an offensive rally. Harrison led Caldwell back as he connected on a pair from downtown, totaling 10 points over a six minute stretch. McDonald netted seven points, including a three-point play and capped the run with a lay-up with 39 seconds on the clock to put the Cougars in the lead at 65-64. Le Moyne hit a free throw to tie at score and the Cougars missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime.  
 
In the extra period, the teams traded free throws and triples as the game remained tied. Senior Salvatore Vitello (Bridgewater, NJ) hit a pair from the free throw line, while Lighty drained one from downtown to keep the score tied at 70 at the 2:41 mark of overtime. The Dolphins scored the next eight points to go up 78-70 with under a minute to play and held on for the victory.
 
For the Cougars, McDonald's career-best 28 points led the way, while he tied a career-high with nine rebounds. Lighty finished with 15 points, six boards and two steals, while Harrison tallied 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Austin Woods (Milford, CT) chipped in nine points and two boards.  
 
The Cougars are off until the calendar flips to 2016 as they travel to Bloomfield College on Sunday, January 3 for a CACC clash against the Bears at 3 pm.