BLOOMFIELD, N.J.- Caldwell University men's basketball Ned Ogoemesim (Westampton, N.J.) netted 19 points as the Cougars fell short 82-77 to Bloomfield College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.
 
The Cougars fall to 5-5 overall and 2-2 in the CACC, while the Bears improve to 5-4 and 2-1 in conference play.
 
Bloomfield jumped out to an 11-6 lead over the first five minutes of the game. The Cougars flipped the score with a 22-1 run over the next five minutes to pull ahead by 16 points midway through the half. Senior Vaughn Covington (Sicklerville, N.J.) and Ogoemesim each drained a pair of three-pointers in the run. Covington totaled nine points, while Ogoemesim added eight points in the rally. Sophomore Anthony Cooper (Ashburn, Va.) capped the run with a jumper at the 10:25 mark to put Caldwell ahead 28-12. The Bears battled back as they cut the score to 38-37 at halftime.
 
The Bears got off to a fast start in the second half as they opened up a 56-41 lead with 14:01 left in the game. Caldwell rallied back with a 26-6 run to take a five-point lead late in the game. Cooper and Covington each drained trifectas in the run. Sophomore Chandler Brooks (Winchester, Va.) and Ogeomesim each netted eight points in the rally as Ogeomesim capped the run with a three-pointer at the 6:27 mark for a 67-62 lead.
 
Bloomfield answered as they pulled even at 75 with 1:24 left in the game. The Bears connected on a three-pointer with under a minute to play to take the lead for good and four free throws down the stretch.  
 
Ogoemesim connected on 5-of-6 from downtown as he finished with 21 points and eight rebounds. Covington added 19 points, six boards and four assists, while senior Ruud Lutterman (Dalem, Netherlands) totaled 13 points and four rebounds. Brooke chipped in eight points, while senior Eric Johnson-Alford (Clifton, N.J.) posted nine rebounds and five assists.
 
The Cougars host Stonehill College for a non-conference contest on Sunday, December 22 at 1 pm.