CALDWELL, N.J. -- Round One of the Battle for Bloomfield Avenue goes to the Bears as visiting Bloomfield outlasted Caldwell in a battle of CACC North men's basketball heavyweights at the Newman Center. Reigning CACC Co-Player of the Week, sophomore guard Darnell Evans (Deer Park, N.Y.) filled the scoresheet with 25 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals and junior forward Derrick Bueno (Palisades Park, N.J.) contributed 20 points and six rebounds for the Cougars (8-8, 3-3 CACC), who saw their four game winning streak snapped.

Bloomfield (13-6, 5-3) jumped out to a 26-11 lead out of the gate in the first 11 minutes, before the Cougars rallied to get to within four at 45-41 at the break, the rally buoyed by a three point basket and traditional and-one three point play by Evans plus a jumper by sophomore forward Moussa Ngom (Dakar, Senegal) to close the half.

Caldwell would take its first lead 90 seconds into the second stanza, a three and jumper by junior guard Mark Heber (Paterson, N.J.) giving CU its first lead. The hosts would lead by as many as five, a pair of Evans free throws staking them to a 53-48 lead.

Bloomfield would re-establish a nine-point advantage later in the half, and hold off the Cougars for the win.

Heber finished with 13 points and six rebounds.

The Cougars next host Dominican on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Newman Center.