AMHERST, N.Y.- Caldwell University men's basketball senior Ahmad Harrison (Newark, N.J.) netted 13 points as the Cougars fell to Daemen College in their 2018-19 season opener in the ECC-CACC Challenge hosted by Daemen.
 
The Wildcats pulled ahead 17-10 midway through the opening half. Caldwell battled back as newcomer Anthony Cooper (Ashburn Va.) drained a triple to help cut into the Wildcats lead. Sophomore Manley Dorme (Nanuet, N.Y.) added a bucket, while junior Vaughn Covington (Sicklerville, N.J.) hit a free throw to cut the score to 19-16.
 
Daemen pushed ahead by 11 points with eight minutes left in the opening half. The Cougars closed the half strong with a 13-5 run to cut the score down to single digits. Cooper netted seven points in the run, including connecting on a key triple. Junior Daan Vianen (Nieuwegein, Netherlands) added a three-pointer, while junior Ned Ogoemesim (Westampton, N.J.) hit a pair of free throws to trim the score to 32-29 with two minutes remaining in the half. Daemen scored a late basket as they held a 34-29 lead at halftime.
 
Caldwell rallied to start the second half as junior Ruud Lutterman (Dalem, Netherlands) scored in the paint, while junior AJ Kittles (Glassboro, N.J.) drained a triple to tie the score at 34. The Wildcats answered with a run to push their lead into double digits and maintained the lead the rest of the way.
 
Harrison totaled 13 points and three assists to lead the Cougars. Ogoemesin posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds along with two assists. Cooper finished with 10 points, while Covington tallied three points, four assists and three steals. Dorme recorded eight points and two steals.
 
The Cougars wrap up play at the ECC-CACC Challenge presented by WNY Knee and Orthopedic Surgery PC as they take on Roberts Wesleyan University on Saturday, November 10 at noon on the Daemen campus.