JERSEY CITY, N.J.- Caldwell University men's basketball senior Anthony Cooper (Ashburn, Va.) and freshman Derrick Bueno (Palisades Park, N.J.) each scored 23 points as the Cougars came up short 76-74 to Nyack College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.
 
The Cougars fall to 4-4 overall and 0-2 in the CACC, while the Warriors improve to 3-4 and 1-0 in conference play.
 
Caldwell raced out to an 11-3 lead over the first five minutes as Bueno scored four points and sophomore Jarnel Rancy (Middle Island, N.Y.) netted five points. Nyack battled back to take a five point lead at 30-25 late in the half. The Cougars closed the half strong to trim the score to 30-29 at the break.
 
Bueno and Cooper scored the first four points of the second half to push the Cougars ahead 33-30 in the first two minutes. The Warriors rallied back to take a 49-41 lead at the 13:36 mark of the second half.
 
The Cougars rallied back as Bueno converted a three-point play at the 5:53 mark to give Caldwell a 63-61 lead.
 
The teams traded points down the stretch with Nyack grabbing a 75-71 lead with just over a minute to play. Freshman Mark Heber (Paterson, N.J.) converted a three-point play in the final minute to cut the score to one but Nyack added one free throw to take a two-point lead. Caldwell had one final opportunity and missed on a potential game-winning shot as time expired.
 
Cooper totaled 23 points with three assists, while Bueno finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Rancy added 11 points, five boards and two blocks.
 
The Cougars head to the Sunshine State for a pair of games this weekend in Florida. Caldwell starts the trip on Saturday, December 11 as they face St. Thomas University at 4 pm.