SPARKILL, N.Y. — Junior guard Isaiah Philbert (Bronx, N.Y.) made four second-half three pointers and finished with 20 points and senior guard Melvin Evans (Bronx, N.Y.) had a team-high 23 points, but a strong second-half comeback came up short as Caldwell men's basketball fell at STAC, 93-86, at Aquinas Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing, 51-31, at halftime, and 56-38 three minutes into the second half, the Cougars (0-4) would stage a dramatic rally. Philbert notched all 20 of his points after the intermission, and his three-pointer pulled CU to within 67-62 midway through the second half. After the hosts (2-2) went back ahead by 10, at 76-66, the Cougars refused to go away, closing to with 76-74 on Evans's steal and layup with 4:32 to play.

CU would make one more push, a dunk by freshman forward Terence Thompson (Rochester, N.Y.) making it a one-point game at 80-79 with 2:55 left. But the Spartans would score the next six points and add free throws down the stretch for the final margin.

Junior guard Todd Rochelle (Laurelton, N.Y.) finished with 15 points and sophomore guard Jaryn Bull (Bronx, N.Y.) matched his career high with 10 of the Cougars bench.

Caldwell begins CACC play with a 7:30 matchup vs. Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday at the Newman Center.