THE BASICS
-Score: Assumption College 100, Caldwell University 73
-Records: Assumption (2-0), Caldwell (0-2)
-Location: Worcester, Mass.
-The Lead: The Assumption College men's basketball team defeated the Cougars of Caldwell University on day two of the Assumption Tip-Off Classic on Saturday afternoon. The win boosts the Hounds to a 2-0 record to start the season. The Hounds set the Assumption men's basketball school record for three-pointers made in a game tonight with 21. The previous record was set in '94 at Bridgeport with 19.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Hounds and the Cougars were neck-and-neck through the first 15 minutes of play with Assumption trailing by just one with 5:26 on the clock (28-27). Assumption picked up the pace with five minutes remaining in the first half when an 8-0 run kicked off with a three-pointer by sophomore Cal Connelly (Rochester, N.H. / Spaulding / Tilton). Senior Branislav Vujadinovi (Belgrade, Serbia / St. Joseph) knocked down two threes red-shirt junior, Malik Brown (Waldorf, Md. / Northpoint) added a basket from behind the arc to give the Hounds the 45-28 lead heading into the halftime break.
-Freshman Isiah Gaiter (Meriden, Conn. / Sacred Heart High School / Huntington Prep) came off the bench with 13 points, including a 4-for-5 showing from the field and one three, to lead the Hounds in the first half. Junior Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md. / Clinton Christian School) added 12 points and five assists to help boost Assumption to a 17-point lead after the first 20 minutes.
-The Hounds outscored the Cougars 55-45 in the second half. Manley Dorme came off the bench with 10 points to lead Caldwell in scoring in the second half. Senior Patrick Fleming (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. / Iona Prep) was 4-for-5 from the field and 4-for-5 from behind the arc to add 12 points for the Hounds in the second half and lift them to the final 100-73 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
-Kelly led the Hounds in scoring with 17 points and added seven assists and six rebounds. Fleming and Gaiter each added 15 points while Vujadinovic finished the night with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
-Anthony Cooper led the Cougars with 13 points and his teammate Rudd Lutterman put up 12 points in the setback. Vaughn Covington, Ned Ogoemesim, and Manley Dorme each added 10 points for Caldwell while AJ Kittles led the team in rebounding with six.
-The Hounds shot 53.3% from the field while Caldwell shot 38.7%. Assumption finished shooting 50% from behind the arc and the Cougars shot 20.8% from three-point range.
-Assumption outrebounded Caldwell 42-36 and took their largest lead of the game, 34 points, with 3:59 to play in the second half.
UP NEXT
-Assumption travels to Concordia (N.Y.) on Wednesday, November 13th for a non-conference game at 5:00 p.m.