RUTHERFORD, N.J. – A three-pointer by junior guard Salvatore Vitello (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) with 3.9 seconds remaining gave the Caldwell University men's basketball team a 63-60 victory over Felician College Tuesday night at Job Gymnasium. The win came in the first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game of the season for the Cougars, who improve to 4-2 overall. The Golden Falcons fall to 0-6, 0-2 CACC.

A basket by Jeyvi Miavivululu with 18 seconds left tied the score at 60-60. After timeouts by both teams, senior guard Kevin Walker (Bayonne, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) found Vitello, who buried a three to put the Cougars on top with 3.9 seconds left. A late three-point attempt by A.J. Kemp did not drop for Felician, as Caldwell opened the conference schedule with a win.

It is remarkable that Vitello and the Cougars had an opportunity to win the game at the end of the second half, as Caldwell fell behind by as many as 20 points in the first half. Eight points by Miavivululu sparked a 23-5 Felician run that put the hosts ahead, 36-16 with just under four minutes to play in the half. The Cougars closed out the period on a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to 13, 38-25 at halftime. The Golden Falcons were hot from the field in the first half, shooting 63.0 percent compared to 32.1 percent for Caldwell.

Felician's lead was 11 early in the second half when the Cougars made a run, outscoring the Golden Falcons, 14-2 to take their first lead since the first two minutes of the game, 45-44 with nine minutes to go. Walker and freshman guard Tyler Drews (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) both hit threes in the run. After two free throws from Tim Massado, another three by Drews started a 7-0 spree for a 52-46 edge with 6:49 on the clock. Felician came within one point twice, only to have Caldwell maintain the six-point lead with two baskets from senior forward Michael Balkovic (Neptune, NJ/St. John Vianney) and a Vitello free throw at the 3:47 mark to make the score 59-53.

But the Golden Falcons were not done, as Will Thompson and Miavivululu scored around a Caldwell turnover to cut into the Cougars' lead, 59-57 with 2:26 left. After Kemp and junior forward Billy McDonald (North Haven, CT/North Haven) each hit one free throw, Miavivululu knotted the score with 18 seconds to play, setting up Vitello's game-winning shot. Caldwell hit 4-of-8 from three-point range in the second half compared to 1-of-14 for Felician. The Cougars also went to the free throw line 20 times for the game, making 15 compared to just 3-of-6 for the Golden Falcons.

McDonald led Caldwell with 17 points seven rebounds and a career-high four steals. Balkovic tallied 14 points and nine boards, while Walker added 11 points, four rebounds and five assists. Miavivululu scored a game-high 18 points to pace Felician.

The Cougars play a non-league game at Dowling College on Sunday, Nov. 30, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Oakdale, N.Y.