RUTHERFORD, N.J.- Caldwell University men's basketball juniors Eric Johnson-Alford (Clifton, N.J.) and Ned Ogoemesim (Westampton, N.J.) each netted double-doubles as the Cougars fell short to Felician University 85-80 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.
 
The Cougars fall to 6-7 overall and 2-2 in the CACC, while the Golden Falcons improve to 3-7 and 1-2 in conference play.
 
After trading leads over the opening minutes of the game, the Cougars pulled ahead 20-16 midway through the first half. Ogoemesim and senior Ahmad Harrison (Newark, N.J.) each connected on three-pointers in the early going to help Caldwell build a lead.
 
Felician battled back as they pushed ahead 42-28 late in the half. Caldwell answered to trim the score to 46-37 at halftime.
 
Caldwell opened the second half on a 13-5 run to close the gap to one-point. Sophomore Manley Dorme (Nanuet, N.Y.) netted four points, while Ogoemesim converted a three-point play to help the Cougars cut the score to 51-50 with 15:09 remaining in the game.
 
The Golden Falcons extended their lead to 73-58 midway through the half. Caldwell rallied back with a 20-9 run over the next eight minutes. Johnson-Alford netted six points, while freshman Anthony Cooper (Ashburn, Va.) added 10 points in the rally. Ogoemesim capped the run with a triple with under a minute to play to cut the score to 82-78. Felician connected on three free throws in the final 17 seconds to hold off the Cougar rally.
 
Johnson-Alford posted a double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Ogoemesim also recorded a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Harrison totaled 11 points, while Cooper finished with 10 points. Dorme tallied 11 points and four rebounds.
 
The Cougars host Georgian Court University on Saturday, January 5 in a CACC contest at 3:00 pm.