NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Senior forward Roniel Oguekwe (Galway, Ireland) was  a perfect five-for-five from the floor, scoring 11 points and securing 11 rebounds to collect his first double-double and junior guard Isaiah Philbert (Bronx, N.Y.) drained six three pointers, notching a team-best 21 points, leading Caldwell men's basketball to a solid 83-63 triumph at Southern Connecticut State on Monday at James Moore Field House.

Trailing, 20-17, with 5:20 to play in the first half, the Cougars (2-8) closed with a 17-6 run for a 34-26 halftime lead, with nine Philbert points on two three-point goals and three straight free throws keying the rally.

Caldwell took charge early in the second, a three pointer by freshman forward Terence Thompson (Rochester, N.Y.) and layup by junior guard Todd Rochelle (Laurelton, N.Y.) capping a 10-5 run that extended its lead to 13 at 44-31. SCSU (2-4) would get no closer than nine the rest of the way, before another 15-4 burst turned a 48-39 edge into a 63-43 bulge with just under nine minutes left.

Oguekwe, who had totaled seven points and 12 rebounds in four games (two starts) coming into this one, also contributed two assists, a block and steal in 32 minutes of action. Thompson posted 11 points, five boards and two blocks, while Rochelle filled the sheet with nine points, a career-high 10 rebounds and a career-best tying seven assists. 

Senior guard Melvin Evans (Bronx, N.Y.) had 13 points and five assists for the Cougars, who won their second straight contest.

Justice Ellison's 24 for SCSU led all scorers.

Caldwell returns to CACC action on Friday, hosting Wilmington at 6 p.m. at the Newman Center.