CALDWELL, N.J.- The Caldwell University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker as they fell to Thomas Jefferson University 79-70 in overtime in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.
 
The Cougars fall to 12-8 and 8-4 in the CACC, while the Rams improve to 19-2 and 12-0 in conference play.
 
Caldwell jumped put to an early lead as they built a 19-8 lead to start the game. Sophomore Anthony Cooper (Ashburn, Va.) drained a pair of three pointers in the run, while senior AJ Kittles (Glassboro, N.J.) added a trifecta. Senior Ned Ogoemesim (Westampton, N.J.) drained a pair of triples, totaling eight points to help the Cougars pull ahead.
 
Jefferson trimmed the score down to 26-23 with 1:30 left in the half but the Cougars netted the final seven points of the half. Cooper drained a pair of free throws, while freshman Gabe Johnson (Bloomfield, N.J.) added a trifecta. Senior Vaughn Covington (Sicklerville, N.J.) connected on a lay-up at the buzzer to put Caldwell ahead 33-23 at halftime.
 
The Cougars maintained their lead into the second half as Johnson's three-pointer at the 14:17 mark gave Caldwell their largest lead of the game at 45-31. The Rams cut the score down to six points at 47-41 near the midway point of the game but the Cougars answered to push their lead to 10 points at 56-46 with 6:36 remaining in the game.
 
Jefferson closed the gap to one point at 58-57 with 20 seconds left in regulation. Covington drained a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left. The Rams connected on a game-tying three-pointer with 2.9 seconds left to force overtime.
 
The Rams jumped out to a 67-63 lead in overtime and held a lead throughout the overtime period.
 
Cooper led the way with 17 points and five rebounds. Covington tallied 11 points, six boards and four assists. Kittles posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Ogoemesim finished with nine points and four boards.
 
The Cougars travel to Post University for a CACC contest on Tuesday, February 4 at 7:30 pm.