WATERBURY, Conn.- Caldwell University men's basketball junior Vaughn Covington (Sicklerville, N.J.) netted 22 points as the Cougars rallied past Post University 81-76 in overtime in their Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener.
 
The Cougars improve to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the CACC, while the Eagles drop to 1-5 and 0-1 in conference play.
 
Post took the early lead as they built a 15-9 lead at the 13:14 mark of the first half. Caldwell answered as senior Ahmad Harrison (Newark, N.J.) drained a triple, while junior AJ Kittles (Glassboro, N.J.) converted a three-point play to tie the game at 15. The Eagles pulled ahead 32-25 late in the half and they held a 46-41 lead at halftime.
 
The Cougars rallied back to start the second half. Covington drained a triple at the 15:25 mark to put Caldwell in the lead at 54-53. The teams traded leads the rest of regulation with Post connecting on a pair of late free throws to force overtime.
 
Post jumped out to an early two-point lead to start the overtime period. Harrison hit a free throw, while Covington drained a pair from the line to put Caldwell in front to stay at 75-74 with 2:14 left in the game. Covington added two clutch buckets down the stretch to help the Cougars maintain their lead to earn their first conference victory of the season.
 
Covington tallied 22 points, five rebounds and two steals to lead the Cougars. He connected on 7-of-9 from the line and went 3-for-6 from downtown. Junior Ned Ogoemesim (Westampton, N.J.) chipped in 21 points, eight boards and two steals, while junior Ruud Lutterman (Dalem, Netherlands) finished with 16 points, five rebounds and two steals. Kittles chipped in eight points, four rebounds and two steals, while sophomore Manley Dorme (Nanuet, N.Y.) posted eight points and five boards. Harrison totaled six points, seven rebounds and five assists.
 
The Cougars host Queens College on Saturday, December 1 at 3:00 pm at the Newman Center.