Caldwell, NJ - With a career-high 30 points, two key free throws and a block to send the game to overtime, rookie
Elijah Lewis helped lift the Adelphi men's basketball team to an 85-79 overtime win at Caldwell University on Wednesday evening.
Lewis led all players with 30 points behind 10-for-17 shooting, including four three-pointers. Also draining four threes was
Matthew Price, who landed second on the team in scoring with 19 points, also a new career-high.
Dayshaun Walton was the third Panther player in double-figures with his first career double-double, accounting for 14 points and an impressive rebounds.
Four minutes in the teams were locked at seven, but the Cougars managed to pull away with the lead after using a 12-4 run to put them ahead by eight. Price dropped three consecutive shots from beyond the arc to come within two which coupled with a Walton layup made it 23-all with 9:11 left on the clock.
Caldwell was able to hold a slight advantage down the stretch, but only held a one-point lead after Lewis put up two as the half came to a close.
The teams were locked four different times in the opening 10 minutes of action which led to a tight race down the stretch in the non-conference battle. Caldwell held a 22-16 edge in rebounds in the opening frame, but the Panthers (5-7) came back with vengeance in the second to even the stat at 44-all for the contest.
A scoring drought from both sides for nearly two minutes was squandered by a free throw from Darnell Evans at 1:10, and two straight from the hands of Lewis tied the game at 68-68 with just enough time for one more possession for the home team. A shot attempt went up as time was nearly expiring, but Lewis got a hand on the ball to send the game to overtime.
The overtime period was all-Adelphi as they jumped out to a 74-68 with six unanswered out of the gate. The Cougars were unable to string anything together to come back from the deficit, ultimately dropping a 79-85 decision in non-league action.
The squad will take its back-to-back wins into the weekend when they take on Chestnut Hill College on Sunday, Dec. 18. Opening tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.
