Box Score

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked No. 2 Southern Connecticut State men's basketball team used 51 second half points to rally past Caldwell 86-80 on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Michael Mallory (Waterbury, Conn.) led all scorers with 31 points and senior Tylon Smith (Manchester, Conn.) scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half to help lead Southern to its first 5-0 start since the 1999-00 season. Billy McDonald (24 points), Dawan Lighty (19 points) and Michael Balkovic (18 points) led the way for the Cougars, who fall to 3-2 on the season.

The Owls grabbed the lead right out of the gate, building it to as high as 15-10 at the 14:27 mark. From that point, the Cougars scored 20 of the next 21 points over the next 5:23 to shoot out to a 14 point, 30-16 lead.

The Owls would rally to within single digits with 1:34 remaining on a three-pointer by Mallory to cut the deficit to 40-32, but the Cougars would use a halftime buzzer-beater by McDonald to carry a 45-35 lead into the break. The Cougars shot 50 percent from three point range and 55 percent (17-31) from the field in the first half.

Early in the second half, the Owls began to push back into it as Mallory used a layup and subsequent free throw to conclude a 7-0 run to get Southern back to within 49-45.

With just over 12 minutes remaining, a pair of threes from senior Luke Houston (Pearl River, N.Y.) would tie the game at 58, but the Cougars would answer with a McDonald layup and three pointer to keep the lead. McDonald would add a pair of free throws with 5:09 left to bring the advantage to 78-71.

Southern would then turn the tide in their favor by closing the game on a 15-2 run. A pair of Mallory free throws tied it at 78 with 3:51 remaining and Smith then gave the Owls the lead with a layup on the next possession. Houston hit two free throws with 1:28 remaining to make it a two-possession game at 84-80. Mallory then sealed the victory in the final seconds by stealing the ball and finishing it with a dunk at the other end.

The second half saw the Owls outscore Caldwell 51-35 and shoot 57 percent from the field.

SCSU will host its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 25 against Pace with a men's and women's doubleheader. The men will tip off at 7:30 p.m., following the women's game which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.