Box Score Caldwell, N.J. – (1/3/2015) – At the end of regulation, it was freshman guard Demetrius Isaac (Philadelphia, Pa.) who scored his only bucket of the game to force overtime at Caldwell University. But the determined Cougars answered Chestnut Hill College's heroics, forcing a second and third overtime before claiming an 88-84 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) win behind a 22-point, 17-rebound double-double from senior forward Michael Balkovic (Neptune, N.J.) and the crunch-time play of junior forward Ben McDonald (North Haven, Conn.). Junior guard Luke Dickson (Pitman, N.J.) led four Griffins in double figures with a career-high 23 points.

Another dramatic contest unfolded before Chestnut Hill College (3-9, 2-3) this afternoon, as the Griffins dropped their eighth contest by five points or less on rival CACC hardwood. A late first-half pushed afforded Caldwell University (8-6, 4-2) the largest lead of the game, 31-18, with 2:33 remaining. But the 13-point advantage was cut to five points, 31-26, by halftime on five straight Dickson points and a last-possession trifecta from sophomore guard Billy Cassidy (Primos, Pa.). Seniors, guard Christian Walck (Lancaster, Pa.) and center Seamus Radtke (Philadelphia, Pa.), kept the Griffins nearby for a majority of the second half, leaving Dickson to bring them within one point, 55-54, on the second of two free throws at 2:45. After a Cougar three pointer, 58-54, a good find, and a key rebound from Cassidy netted the Griffins possession and a two-point deficit, 58-56. Opposing timeouts boiled regulation down to a six second span where after the ball went to Isaac, who promptly beat his man to the hoop to extend the conference clash.

Following an opening three point basket from Dickson, overtime was left to Cassidy and Radtke who accounted for 17 of the Griffins 26 points in extra play. But McDonald became a thorn on the Griffins side, knotting the score at the end of the first overtime, 69-69, and recording eight of his 17 points in the contest's additional 15 minutes. He also recorded six rebounds, an assist, a block, and two steals. But it was the double-double, six assists, a block, and a steal from Balkovic that powered the Cougars who also got 24 points from junior guard Dawan Lighty (Paterson, N.J.).

Dickson went over 20 points for the first time this season as he sunk a personal high of five (5-of-12, 41.7%) three-point baskets and all four of his free throws (4-of-4, 100.0%) while recording four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Cassidy totaled 17 points, set a career mark with six rebounds, and matched another with three assists while Radtke scored in double figures for the fifth straight contest with 16 points in addition to eight rebounds, two assists, a block, and two steals. Walck finished with 16 points, an assist, and three steals.

The men's basketball team hopes to reverse this season's current misfortune in an 8:00 p.m. CACC contest at the University of the Sciences (USciences) on Wednesday, January 7.