Gill Lifts Caldwell Past Mercy for First Men's Hoops Win

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. - Junior guard Anthony Gill (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) hit the go-ahead basket with nine seconds remaining to give the Caldwell College men's basketball team a 77-75 victory over Mercy College Tuesday night at the Mercy Gym. The win is the first of the 2010-11 season for the Cougars (1-2), while the Mavericks are now 0-2.

With Caldwell trailing 75-73 with 1:17 left in the second half, senior forward Antonio Brimley (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Eastside) made a lay-up to tie the game at 75-75 at the one-minute mark.  Mercy missed a lay-up on the next possession, giving the Cougars the ball with 28 seconds remaining. Gill dribbled into the lane and lofted an eight-footer into the basket to put Caldwell on top, 77-75 with 9.1 seconds to go. The Mavericks attempted a three-pointer just before the buzzer, but it glanced off the rim as time expired.

In the first half, the Cougars fell behind by as many as nine points, including 23-14 before an 8-0 run made the score 23-22 with 6:15 left in the half. A basket by sophomore forward David Jones (Millville, NJ/Living Faith Christian) tied the score at 36-36 with under a minute to go in the half, only to have Desentrie Allen's lay-up send the Mavericks into the halftime break with a 38-36 lead. Junior guard Nik Otovic (Kraljevo, Serbia) led Caldwell with 11 points in the half.

In the second half the lead changed hands seven times, with four ties. Caldwell erased a 56-49 deficit with a 10-2 run to take a 59-58 advantage with nine minutes to play. But Mercy regained the upper hand, as a jumper by Kourtney Parker put the Mavericks back on top, 69-63 at the five-minute mark of the second half. Again the Cougars fought back, using baskets by Gill and Otovic plus a pair of free throws to tie the score at 69-69. Following two Mercy free throws, freshman guard Matt Rista (Point Pleasant, NJ/St. Anthony) drained a three-pointer for a 72-71 Caldwell lead. But it didn't last long, as Mercy hit back-to-back baskets for a 75-72 advantage with 1:43 left. Gill's free throw cut the lead to 75-73, setting up Brimley's tying shot and Gill's game-winner.

Otovic led all players with 17 points to go with three assists and two steals in his first action of the season. Junior center Peter Diffley (Bellerose, NY/Episcopal) added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Gill finished with 10 points, seven boards and two steals. Senior forward Tyler Emmons (Portland, ME/Portland) led Caldwell in rebounding with eight caroms. Ed Wilson scored 16 points to pace the Mavericks.

The Cougars play their first home game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 20, when the University of New Haven visits the George R. Newman Center. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.