CALDWELL, N.J.- Senior Billy McDonald (North Haven, CT) posted a team-high 18 points to lead the Caldwell University men's basketball team to a 67-64 victory against the Nyack College Warriors in a key Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division match-up.
 
The Cougars improve to 7-14 overall and 5-9 in the CACC, while the Warriors fall to 9-11 and 6-7 in conference play.
 
The teams traded points over the first 11 minute of the game as scored changed hands five times in the opening part of the half. The Cougars took control late as they closed out the half on a 19-8 run to build a half time lead. Trailing 15-13 at the 9:36 mark, senior Salvatore Vitello (Bridgewater, NJ) connected on a triple and hit four free throws, while freshman Ahmad Harrison (Newark, NJ) added four points in the run. Senior Dawan Lighty (Paterson, NJ) capped the run with a jumper in the final seconds to give Caldwell a 32-23 lead at halftime.
 
The Warriors trimmed the scored down to one early in the second half but the Cougars withstood that run to bulge their lead back to seven on back-to-back Lighty and Harrison trifectas. Nyack battled back as they used a 16-4 run to pull ahead 51-46 with 8:01 remaining in the game.
 
Caldwell netted the next six points as McDonald's dunk at the 7:08 mark sparked a 6-0 burst that put the Cougars back in front 52-51. Nyack took their final lead of the game with a pair of free throws at the 5:41 mark. Lighty and senior Brian Kenny (Howell, NJ) both scored on the fastbreak as put Caldwell back in front 56-53 with 4:47 left in the game.
 
Nyack hung around as they evened the score at 57-57 and 59-59 with the final tie coming at the 2:33 mark. Lighty connected on a jumper to put the Cougars ahead for good but the outcome was decided near the final buzzer. The Cougars hit three free throws in the final minute, while playing solid on the defensive end. The Warriors missed a trio of triples and had a pair of key turnovers in the final 60 seconds that helped the Cougars to hold on for the victory.
 
For the Cougars, McDonald led the way with 18 points along with four rebounds and three blocks. Lighty totaled 15 points and three boards, while Vitello tallied 12 points, three rebounds, five assists and four steals. Kenny netted 10 points and six boards, while Harrison finished with seven points, five rebounds and five assists.
 
The Cougars hit the road this weekend as they travel to Chestnut Hill College on Saturday, February 6 for a 3 pm tip.