CALDWELL, N.J. – The Pace University men's basketball team returned to action on Friday, falling on the road to Caldwell University in non-conference action by a score of 80-64.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
- After a slow start, both teams traded baskets throughout the first few minutes, but Caldwell managed to grab a 7-4 lead at the 16:38 mark.
- Freshman
Jack McGuire (Brielle, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) made a jumper, and then graduate student
Christian White (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute / Syracuse University) drained a three to put Pace on top, 9-7.
- Caldwell then went on an 8-2 run to claim a 15-11 lead with 11:30 left in the half.
- The Cougars managed to run out to a 29-20 edge with 4:45 left in the half, but the Setters fought their way back into the game.
- An 8-0 run was capped off by a big three by sophomore
Ryan Peterson (Wethersfield, CT/St. Thomas More), getting Pace back within one at 29-28.
- Caldwell scored the final four points of the frame to take a 33-28 lead into the break.
HALFTIME LEADERS
- Redshirt sophomore
Mike Demello (Mohegan Lake, NY/White Plains) and White matched with seven points at the break.
- Caldwell's Derek Dorn led all scorers with 12 points.
SECOND HALF
- Caldwell quickly extended its lead back to nine points with a 6-2 run to open the new half.
- The lead reached double digits when Derek Dorn went to the line, making both shots to put the Cougars up, 43-32, with 15:56 left in the second.
- Later on, a three by Peterson cut the deficit to just five at 45-40 with 13:47 to go.
- Daan Vianen then hit a three for Caldwell to make it an eight-point game again, but White responded with one more for Pace to get it back within five.
- Caldwell kept the pressure on, pushing its lead out to 57-45 with 9:37 left in the period.
- The Cougar lead remained in double figures the rest of the way, giving the home team a 16-point win.
SETTER STATS
- Demello led the Setters with 16 points on the evening. He also picked up six steals and dished out four assists.
- Peterson and senior
Austin Mofunanya (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow / Lincoln College of NE) each added 12 points, while freshman
Peyton Wejnert (Point Pleasant, NJ/Southern Regional) grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
COUGAR LEADERS
- Dorn finished with 20 points after going 12-for-12 from the free throw line.
- Vaughn Covington added 15 points, while Ruud Lutterman scored 10 and completed a double-double with 11 rebounds.
RECORDS
- Pace: 4-10
- Caldwell: 9-4
UP NEXT
- Pace hits the road on Wednesday, Jan. 4, to take on Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference action. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
For all information regarding Pace University men's basketball log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace men's basketball on Twitter (
@PaceMBB).
