LAKEWOOD, N.J.- Senior Salvatore Vitello (Bridgewater, NJ) netted 13 points as the Caldwell University men's basketball team fell to Georgian Court University 72-64 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game.
 
The Cougars fall to 5-13 overall and 3-8 in the CACC, while the Lions improve to 4-14 and 3-8 in conference play.
 
The Lions took a 16-10 lead near the midway point of the opening half. The teams traded triples as freshman Ned Ogoemesim (Westampton, NJ) drained a pair from downtown to cut the score to 19-16. Georgian Court extended their lead to as much as 12 points late in the half but a late Ogoemesim three-pointer cut the score to 40-31 at halftime.
 
Georgian Court extended their lead to as much as 13 points at 50-37 with 12:01 left in the game. The Cougars chipped away as they closed to within three points late in the game. Vitello's triple at the 1:31 mark cut the score down to 64-61. Senior Dawan Lighty (Paterson, NJ) also connected on a trifecta in the final minute but the Lions hit six free throws in the final minute to hold off the Caldwell rally.
 
For the Cougars, Vitello tallied 13 points, four rebounds and six assists, while senior Billy McDonald (North Haven, CT) totaled 11 points and three boards. Ogoemesim shot 3-for-5 from downtown, finishing with 13 points and five rebounds. Lighty posted nine points and nine rebounds, while freshman Thomas Elliott-Smith (Plymouth, England) grabbed six rebounds.
 
The Cougars return home to the Newman Center on Tuesday, January 26 as they face the Post University Eagles in a CACC North Division clash at 8 pm.