ORANGEBURG, N.Y. -- The latest installment of the longtime rivalry between CACC foes Caldwell and Dominican produced another nailbiter, with the host Chargers riding a 14-4 run over a five-minute stretch in the second half and holding off a furious Cougars rally in the final two minutes for an 89-85 triumph at the Hennessey Center on Saturday.

Soph Darnell Evans (Deer Park, N.Y.) returned after missing the last game and a half with an injury and didn't miss a beat, playing all 40 minutes and leading five Cougars in double figures in scoring with 26, adding six assists and three steals. Freshman Jaiden Williams (New York) continued his solid play of late with 15 and junior Derrick Bueno (Palisades Park, N.Y.) made seven of 11 field goals en route to a 15 point effort.

DU (18-9, 9-6 CACC) extended a nine-point halftime lead to 11 on three occasions, but the Cougars battled back, turning a 62-53 deficit into a three-point lead with a 12-0 run that included a three pointer and two layups by D Evans and a pair of baskets by his cousin, soph Melvin Evans (Bronx, N.Y.). But that's when the hosts went on the aforementioned run to re-establish a seven-point edge with just over 5:00 left that the Cougars (13-13, 8-6) could not overcome.

Also scoring in double figures in the game were junior Mark Heber (Paterson, N.J.) with 11, lifting his career total to 993.

The result further tightened the CACC North standings, with Post (9-5) and Bloomfield (9-5) tied for first, Dominican a half game behind in third and the Cougars a half game behind that and just a half-step ahead of Felician (8-7).

The Cougars will have a playoff berth and potential first-round home game on the line in their next two games, vs. Post on Wednesday at the Newman Center and at Bloomfield next Saturday.