CALDWELL, N.J.- The Caldwell University men's basketball team rallied back in the second half but came up short 78-75 to Bloomfield College in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action.
 
The Cougars fall to 11-8 overall and 6-5 in the CACC, while the Bears improve to 15-6 and 10-2 in conference play.
 
The teams traded leads in the early going with Bloomfield pulling ahead 18-12 with 13:20 left in the opening half. The Cougars chipped away and pulled even at 27 following a trifecta by freshman Zay Jennings (Allentown, Pa.) at the 8:09 mark.
 
The Bears retook the lead briefly but Caldwell rallied back. Jennings scored on the fast-break with 5:21 remaining in the half to take a 36-32 lead. Bloomfield battled back down the stretch as they pulled ahead 42-38 at halftime.
 
Bloomfield extended their lead early in the second half as they pushed their lead into double digits. The Bears led by as much as 12 points at 63-51 with 11:46 remaining in the contest.
 
Trailing 67-56 with 8:08 left in the game, Caldwell rallied back with a 17-7 run. Junior Derek Dorn (New Rochelle, N.Y.) totaled five points in the comeback, including draining a triple. Jennings and freshman Vaughn Covington (Sicklerville, N.J.) each added three-pointers down the stretch to pace the Caldwell rally. Senior Austin Woods (Milford, Conn.) capped the rally with a jumper in the paint to cut the score down to one point at 74-73 with 2:39 left in the game.
 
Bloomfield answered with a triple on their ensuing possession to go back up by four points. Dorn drained a pair from free throw line with just over two minutes to play in the game. The Bears went 1-of-2 at the line at the 1:50 mark for the final points of the game. The teams traded missed shots in the final minute of the game with the Cougars missing a three-pointer as time expired.
 
Dorn led the way for Caldwell with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Jennings chipped in 14 points and two rebounds. Covington totaled 15 points and two assists, while Woods finished with eight points, six boards and three blocks. Freshman AJ Kittles (Glassboro, N.J.) added seven points and six boards.

The Cougars are back in action on Saturday, January 28 as they host USciences in a CACC clash at 3 pm at the Newman Center.