WILMINGTON, Del. -- Sophomore guard
Darnell Evans (Deer Park, N.Y.) had game-bests of 37 points and six assists and the Cougars used a 60-point second half in which they made an incredible 20 of 25 shots from the floor to upend the CACC South leader Goldey-Beacom, 101-92 at Joseph West Jones Center on Saturday.
Leading, 41-38 at halftime, the Cougars extended to an eight-point advantage in the first two minutes after the intermission before the hosts rallied to go back ahead, 50-48, with 16:36 left. But Evans hit a three pointer, junior forward
Derrick Bueno (Palisades Park, N.J.) scored a traditional three, then put in another layup for a 56-50 Cougars lead, that they would never relinquish despite hot shooting by the hosts as well.
CU (10-11, 6-5 CACC) extended to its largest lead of 15, 71-56, on a three by junior guard
Mark Heber (Paterson, N.J.) midway through the second. The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes before the decisive final minutes, when, leading 95-89 with 1:15 to play, the Cougars milked most of the shot clock and Evans drained a right angle jumper for the dagger with 0:48 remaining.
Bueno was dominant with 21 points on 10 of 11 shooting from the floor and six rebounds despite missing a chunk of the second half with four fouls, playing 20 minutes in the contest. Soph
Moussa Ngom (Dakar, Senegal) picked up some of the frontcourt slack with five big rebounds, and soph guard
Melvin Evans (Bronx, N.Y.) was effective on defense, grabbing 10 boards and two steals.
Heber hit several clutch shots to keep the Lightning (13-10, 8-3) grounded, finishing with 19 points, including seven of seven free throws.
The Cougars made 10 of 20 from three point range in a game that featured 20 made threes total. Caldwell converted five of their eight chances behind the arc in the second half, while the hosts were busy hitting nine of 14 triples after the break in a frenzied offensive performance by both squads.
Caldwell will visit Chestnut Hill in a non-league bonus matchup on Monday, then returns to league play on Wednesday vs. Bridgeport at 7:30 p.m.
