WORCESTER, Mass.- The Caldwell University men's basketball team opened their 2022-23 season with an 82-72 loss to Assumption University on Day One of the Assumption University Conference Challenge.
The Cougars open their season at 0-1, while the Greyhounds improve to 1-0.
The game was the beginning of a new era under the leadership of first-year head coach
Dean Johnson, who took over the program after 30 years as an assistant coach for the Cougars.
The teams traded leads to start the game but Assumption pulled ahead to lead 39-30 at halftime.
The Cougars rallied to start the second half as sophomore
Mark Heber (Paterson, N.J.) drained a triple at the 16:49 mark to pull Caldwell to within two points at 43-41. Assumption answered as they extended their lead to 11 points with under five minutes to play in the game.
Caldwell battled back with one final rally as sophomore
Jarnel Rancy (Middle Island, N.Y.) converted a pair of free throws to close the gap to 72-70 with 2:02 remaining in the game. The Greyhounds converted five free throws over the final 1:05 to hold off the Cougars down the stretch.
Freshman
Darnell Evans (Deer Park, N.Y.) led the Cougars in his first collegiate action with 20 points, four rebounds and two steals. Heber connected on a trio of three-pointers, finishing with 14 points, while freshman
Moussa Ngom (Centreville, Va.) added eight points and six boards. Rancy totaled eight points, four rebounds and two blocks, while sophomore
Derrick Bueno (Palisades Park, N.J.) netted eight points and six boards.
The Cougars face St. Michael's College on Saturday, November 12 at 3 pm to close out play at the Assumption Conference Challenge.
