RUTHERFORD, N.J.-- Sophomore guard Darnell Evans (Amityville, N.Y.) followed up his career best 42 point game last week with a scintillating 38-point effort and junior forward Derrick Bueno (Palisades Park, N.J.) posted a double-double with 10 points, a career-high-tying 19 rebounds and team-best five assists, as Caldwell men's basketball dropped its CACC opener to Felician, 89-84, at Job Gymnasium.

The Cougars (4-2, 0-1 CACC) twice rallied from double-digit deficits to take the lead, once in each half. Trailing, 27-15, with 8:12 to go in the first, the Cougars went on an 18-3 run, keyed by eight points by Evans and four by Bueno to take their first lead of the game, 33-30, with 2:20 left before settling for a one-point deficit at 36-35 at the half.

Felician (4-3, 1-0 CACC) would lead by as many as 13 at 57-44 just over five minutes into the second half, but again the Cougars worked their way back into it, tying it at 63 on consecutive threes by soph guard Melvin Evans (Bronx, N.Y.) and junior guard Mark Heber (Paterson, N.J.) midway through the period.

The Cougars would take their largest lead, 71-68, on a basket and foul shot by Darnell Evans with 8:30 left, but after the lead changed hands several times over the next few minutes, the hosts would go ahead to stay with 4:02 left and hold on for the win.

Darnell Evans made 13 of 20 shots from the floor, including three of seven threes, and nine of 11 free throws for his game-high point total, adding three rebounds, three assists and two steals on the evening.

Heber finished with 13 points for the Cougars, who next visit Queens on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Flushing, N.Y.