WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- Junior guard Isaiah Philbert (Bronx, N.Y.) scored a game-high 28 points, including seven of 11 three pointers, as Caldwell men's basketball fell, 96-68, in an exhibition contest to Division I Monmouth University at OceanFirst Bank Center.

Junior guard Todd Rochelle (Laurelton, N.Y.) added 11 points for the Cougars and senior guard Melvin Evans (Bronx, N.Y.) had team-bests of eight rebounds and six assists.

Philbert hit four threes for 12 first half points, as Caldwell got off to a fast start, with consecutive threes by the sharpshooter staking the visitors to an early 6-2 lead. After MU tied it, layups by Rochelle and Evans gave the Cougars their largest lead at 10-6 at the first media time out.

But with the score tied at 12 after two Rochelle free throws, the Hawks went on an 8-0 run that extended to 19-4 for a 33-16 lead, temporarily stalled by a Rochelle left angle three. But another MU spurt to close the half made it a 52-25 lead for the hosts at the intermission.

Freshman Terence Thompson (Rochester, N.Y.) collected seven points and six rebounds for the Cougars.

Caldwell opens the regular season on Friday, November 14, at 5 p.m. vs. Southern New Hampshire in the first round of the CACC-NE10 Challenge at the Newman Center. The Cougars take on Bentley the next day in the second round of the tournament.