BLOOMFIELD, N.J.- Freshman Eric Johnson-Alford (Clifton, N.J.) tallied a career-high 19 points as the Caldwell University men's basketball team secured a postseason berth with an 86-78 victory over Bloomfield College in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play.
 
The Cougars improve to 15-11 overall and 10-8 in the CACC to lock up third place in the North Division. The Bears fall to 18-9 overall and 13-5 in conference play.
 
Caldwell raced out to an 11-4 lead behind four points each from Johnson-Alford and senior Austin Woods (Milford, Conn.). Freshman Vaughn Covington (Sicklerville, N.J.) capped the run with a triple at the 15:56 mark of the first half.
 
The Bears trimmed the score down to two points a minute later but the Cougars answered to extend their lead to seven points at 20-13. Caldwell pushed their lead into double digits as junior Derek Dorn (New Rochelle, N.Y.) converted a three-point play and added a trifecta. Freshman Daan Vianen (Nieuwegein, Netherlands) added a triple, while freshman Ruud Lutterman (Gorinchem, Netherlands) scored five straight points to give the Cougars a 31-18 lead with 8:22 to play in the half.
 
Bloomfield trimmed the score down to six points at 35-29 but Caldwell answered to retake a double digit lead. Woods scored four points as part of an 8-1 run, while Covington added two free throws to put Caldwell up 43-30 with 1:32 to play in the half. The Bears rallied late but Caldwell held a 43-35 lead at halftime. Johnson-Alford and Woods each netted 10 points in the half.
 
The Bears opened the second half with strong play as they closed the gap to five points at 47-42 in the first two minutes. The Cougars got hot from downtown to push their lead to 12 points. Freshman Zay Jennings (Allentown, Pa.) drained two from the outside, while sophomore Ahmad Harrison (Newark, N.J.) added one from behind the arc to help Caldwell go ahead 59-47.
 
Bloomfield rallied on final time as they cut the score down to one point at 68-67 with 4:20 remaining in the game. Harrison answered with a trifecta and the Cougars pulled away with free throws. Dorn, Johnson-Alford and Harrison each hit two from the line as Caldwell extended their lead to 78-69 with 1:11 left in the game. The Cougars held off the Bears in the final minute as they hit seven free throws down the stretch. Jennings connected on three from the line, while Covington added two to help Caldwell clinch a spot in the postseason.
 
Johnson-Alford led the way with a career-high 19 points along with four rebounds and five steals. Woods chipped in 13 points, seven boards and three assists, while Jennings totaled 18 points and six rebounds. Harrison tallied nine points, three rebounds and four assists, while Dorn finished with eight points, six rebounds and five assists. Covington added seven points and three assists.
 
The Cougars conclude the regular season on Tuesday, February 21 as they host Concordia College in a CACC clash at 7:30 pm for Senior Night.