CALDWELL, N.J. – Closing out the weekend at the Caldwell University Conference Challenge, the D'Youville University men's basketball team fell to Caldwell by a score of 99-81 Saturday afternoon.
The Saints (0-2) were led offensively by
Nasir Hammonds (Norfolk, Va.) with 20 points off the bench while
Trayton Trice (Romeoville, Ill.) and
Chase Jenkins (Titusville, Fla.) each had 15 points.
Luke Theisen (Lake View, N.Y.) was two rebounds away from a double-double, scoring 10 points while grabbing eight boards (3 offense, 5 defense).
The Cougars jumped out to an early 25-5 lead in the first eight minutes of the game before DYU got good looks from
Renard Fontes-Jules (Brockton, Mass.) and Jenkins to cut into the deficit. Jenkins score was set up by
Dawson Matsell (Hamilton, Ontario) who got the steal and found Jenkins on the outlet.
Caldwell answered with three straight free throws but D'Youville responded with a pair of free throws by Fontes-Jules and a basket from
Dut Kuol (Aweil, South Sudan) to make it 28-13 with 10 minutes until halftime.
Despite seeing a deficit of as many as 26 points late into the half, the Saints kept battling back to make it a 53-36 game going into the break thanks to a three-pointer by Jenkins off the dish from Theisen.
DYU came out ready to go in the second half with Trice setting the tone with a blocked shot and a layup followed by a basket by
Nelson St. Louis (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) to cut the deficit to 13 points. Trice kept bringing it to the Cougars, converting the and-one opportunity and knocking down a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to make it 57-46 just two minutes into the half.
The 11-point deficit was the closest the Saints would be able to cut into the Cougar lead.
DYU went 30-for-71 (42.3 percent) from the field while Caldwell went 33-for-61 (54.1 percent) from the floor.
D'Youville took advantage of their second chance opportunities, outscoring Caldwell 19-12. The Saints also got big contributions from the bench, outscoring the Cougars' bench 39-25.
The Saints will be back in action this Tuesday, November 14th, when they host Wheeling University in their home opener at 7 p.m.
