CALDWELL, N.J. -- Senior guard Melvin Evans (Bronx, N.Y.) powered in a career-best 28 points, adding six rebounds and five assists, and junior guard Todd Rochelle (Laurelton, N.Y.) scored 20 in his first game as a Cougar, but a late CU rally fell short in a season-opening, 91-93 loss to Southern New Hampshire University at the CACC-NE10 Challenge at the George R. Newman Center.

Evans was efficient from the floor, making 11 of 18 shots including three of five three-pointers in fashioning his top career scoring outing. 

A late first-half push gave the visitors a 41-34 halftime edge, and after Caldwell (0-1) rallied to take a five-point lead at 62-57 on two Rochelle free throws with 12:23 left, the Penmen (1-0) would go ahead to stay with a 10-1 run. 

SNHU eventually built an 11-point advantage at 80-69 with 4:50 left, but the Cougars had one more rally in them, closing to within 80-78 on two free throws by Evans and two more by Rochelle with 2:27 left.

After a SNHU layup, a put-back dunk by freshman Terence Thompson (Rochester, N.Y.) made it an 82-80 game with 1:32 left. But JoJo Wallace buried a clutch three pointer with 1:12 remaining and six free throws by the Penmen down the stretch sealed the win.

Thompson, in his collegiate debut, had 14 points and a team-best seven rebounds and junior guard Isaiah Philbert (Bronx, N.Y.) added 12.

Caldwell hosts No. 24 Bentley in the tournament's second round on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Falcons lost to Dominican, 93-89 in overtime.