CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University men's basketball sophomore Derrick Bueno (Palisades Park, N.J.) tied a career-high with 23 points as the Cougars came up short to Goldey-Beacom College 87-84 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest.
 
The Cougars fall to 8-7 overall and 4-2 in the CACC, while the Lightning improve to 5-10 and 2-3 in conference play.
 
Goldey-Beacom took a 16-11 at the 12:38 mark of the opening half. Caldwell rallied with a 9-4 run with sophomore Mark Heber (Paterson, N.J.) scoring eight points in the run. Heber connected on a pair of three-pointer with the second one tying the score at 20 midway through the half.
 
The Cougars pushed ahead by seven points at 38-31 late in the half but the Lightning converted a three-point in the final seconds to cut the score to 38-34 halftime.  
 
The Lightning pulled ahead 50-40 at the 13:49 mark of the second half. Caldwell answered with a 12-2 run as senior Tyler Washington (Hampton, Ga.) drained a triple in the run. Bueno netted seven points including a three-point play with 11:21 left in the game to tie the score at 52.
 
The teams traded leads over the next three minutes with Goldey-Beacom pushing ahead 77-70 with 1:33 remaining in the game.
 
The Cougars rallied back, closing to within a point at 84-83 with under 10 seconds remaining following a Washington three-pointer. Goldey-Beacom held off the Cougars with three free throws in the waning seconds.
 
Bueno led the way, tying a career-high with 23 points, shooting 9-for-10 from the free throw line with five rebounds. Heber finished with 19 points, seven boards and three assists, while freshman Darnell Evans (Deer Park, N.Y.) added 18 points, five rebounds and six assists. Washington totaled 15 points, five boards and four assists, while sophomore Jarnel Rancy (Middle Island, N.Y.) swatted six shots.
 
The Cougars travel to Post University for a CACC contest on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 pm.