BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Jason Saldiveri scored a season high 43 points as the College of Saint Elizabeth's men's basketball team (3-8, 0-4 NEAC) defeated the College of New Rochelle in a wild game at the Barclays Center, 98-96 on Saturday afternoon.

Saldiveri's 43 points came on 14-20 from the floor and 15-19 from the free-throw line.  He also added 14 rebounds and four assists.  Freshman Kar'ron Johnson pitched in with 14 points and six rebounds while Cam Tucker added 12 points.

The game went back and forth throughout the first nine minutes of the first half.  Trailing 18-16 at the 10:59 mark, the Eagles used a 15-2 run over the next three minutes to open up its largest lead of the game at 30-19.  The Eagles pushed the lead to as much as 15 before the Blue Angles battled back, going on an 11-2 run trim the lead to five.  New Rochelle closed out the half by making the final six points and taking a 48-47 lead into the break.

Fresh off a 14 point first half, Saldiveri continued his strong game, scoring an and-one a minute into the second half to give the Eagles a 50-48 lead.  Over a four minute span, the Blue Angels went on a quick 12-0 run to take a 69-56 lead with 11:27 remaining in regulation.  New Rochelle continued to hold a double-digit lead until the eight minute mark, when the Eagles clawed its way back with a 10-0 run, to tie the game at 80.

New Rochelle pushed the lead back up to seven with 1:23 remaining, however the Eagles would not go away as Johnson buried a three-pointer to get within four.  Following back-to-back turnovers by the blue Angels, Tucker and Saldiveri converted to tie the game up at 95 wih 42 seconds remaining.  After New Rochelle made a free-throw to take a one-point lead, Saldiveri came through yet again, making a driving layup with 11 seconds left to give the Eagles a 97-96 lead.  Johnson would make a free-throw in the final second to give the Eagles the two-point victory.

CSE returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Cazenovia College at 1 pm.