PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.- Caldwell University men's basketball senior Derek Dorn (New Rochelle, N.Y.) dropped in 28 points to lead the Cougars past Pace University 73-68 in a non-conference clash.
 
The Cougars improve to 3-6 on the season, while the Setters fall to 2-8.
 
Pace raced out to a 10-4 lead at the 11:49 mark of the first half. Caldwell ripped off the next 12 points to pull ahead by six points. Sophomore Eric Johnson-Alford (Clifton, N.J.) scored in the paint and added a free throw, while Dorn scored four points in the run. Sophomore Vaughn Covington (Sicklerville, N.J.) capped the run with a triple at the 7:56 mark to give the Cougars a 16-10 lead.
 
The Setters closed out the half with a strong run as they retook the lead. Pace pushed ahead by as much as 27-18 with just over a minute to play. Sophomore AJ Kittles (Glassboro, N.J.) hit a free throw in the final minute as the Cougars trailed 27-19 at halftime.
 
Caldwell rallied to start the second half powered by a 10-3 run. Kittles and sophomore Zay Jennings (Allentown, Pa.) each connected on three-pointers as the Cougars closed the gap to 30-29 with 16:32 left in the game. Pace responded to extend their lead to four points at 35-31.
 
The Cougars rallied back with a 15-2 run to retake the lead. Freshman Manley Dorme (Nanuet, N.Y.) and Dorn each scored four points, while Covington added a trifecta. Johnson-Alford drained a pair from the line at the 11:58 mark to put the Cougars up 46-37.
 
Pace had one final rally as they scored 10 points in a row to go back in front 47-46 with under ten minutes to play in the game.
 
Caldwell took control of the game with a 16-5 run over the next six minutes to pull ahead by double digits. Sophomore Ruud Lutterman (Gorinchem, Netherlands) scored four points in the paint, while Johnson-Alford added four points. Dorn drained a free throw at the 3:36 mark to put the Cougars ahead 62-52. Dorn added a triple and eight free throws down the stretch to help Caldwell secure the victory.
 
Dorn led the way with 28 points, shooting 11-for-14 from the charity stripe. Johnson-Alford chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Cougars. Lutterman contributed eight points and seven rebounds, while Covington finished with eight points.
 
The Cougars are back in action on Saturday, December 9 for a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game at Bloomfield College at 3 pm.