WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- Caldwell University men's basketball junior AJ Kittles (Glassboro, N.J.) led the starting five with 14 points as the Cougars fell to Palm Beach Atlantic University 84-73 in the first of their three game Florida swing.
 
The Cougars fall to 5-4, while the Sailfish improve to 3-7.
 
The Sailfish took a 24-15 lead just past the midway point of the opening half. Caldwell battled back to cut the score to 29-26 with 5:45 left in the half following a three-point play by sophomore Manley Dorme (Nanuet, N.Y.).
 
Palm Beach Atlantic extended their lead back to eight but a late Cougar run sliced the score to 39-37 at halftime.
 
Caldwell came out strong to start the second half as the Cougars took a 50-49 lead at the 13:18 mark. Senior Ahmad Harrison (Newark, N.J.) gave the Cougars a one-point lead on a put back.
 
The teams traded leads over the next five minutes as junior Ruud Lutterman (Dalem, Netherlands) scored in the paint to put Caldwell in front 61-60 with 8:44 left in the game. The Sailfish scored the next nine points to push ahead 69-61 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.
 
Junior Ned Ogoemesim (Westampton, N.J.) drained a triple, while Lutterman added two from the line to cut the score to 69-66 with 5:21 to play. Palm Beach Atlantic answered as they extended their lead into double digits down the stretch.
 
Kittles led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds as all five starters reached double figures in points. Ogoemesim chipped in 13 points and four boards, while Lutterman finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Junior Vaughn Covington (Sicklerville, N.J.) posted 11 points and two rebounds, while Harrison tallied 11 points, four boards, five assists and four steals.
 
The Cougars continue their Florida trip as they travel to #9 Nova Southeastern University on Monday, December 17 at 6:30 pm.