CALDWELL, N.J. -- Junior guard Todd Rochelle (Laurelton, N.Y.) converted a driving layup with 11 seconds left and hit two more free throws with three ticks left, vaulting Caldwell men's basketball to its seventh straight win, a gritty 57-54 triumph over Post at the George R. Newman Center on Tuesday evening.

On the winning play, Rochelle, who had nine of his 13 points in the second half, took a pass in the corner from senior guard Melvin Evans (Bronx, N.Y.), whittled the clock down to 13 then drove the left side of the lane. Though well guarded, he flipped a high layup over the outstretched defenders, off glass and in to give CU a 55-54 lead. Then after a Post turnover, Rochelle took the inbounds pass and was fouled, sinking both free throws to seal the victory and push Caldwell (13-12 overall, 11-7 CACC) over the .500 mark for the first time this season.

With the win, the Cougars clinch a berth in the CACC Tournament, March 3, 7 and 8. Caldwell remains in third place, one-half game back of Goldey-Beacom (11-6) and one game ahead of Jefferson (10-8). The top four teams earn Quarterfinal round home games in the tournament.

Caldwell led for most of the contest, opening up a 30-20 advantage, matching their largest of the game, a pair of Evans layups capping a run that gave CU the edge with 3:07 left.

The Cougars still led by eight at 32-24 at halftime, but Post (10-15, 9-8) battled back, eventually taking the lead at 52-51 with 1:16 left. After free throws by Rochelle and freshman forward Terence Thompson (Rochester, N.Y.) put CU back up, two free throws by Post's Derrick Thomas II with 0:32 left gave the Eagles the lead again, before Rochelle's heroics put the Cougars in the win column.

Evans finished with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. The second, a diving play into the Post backcourt with 14:15 left, was his 185th, moving him past Ahmad Harrison '19 for the most in Caldwell's NCAA Division II history (2002-present) with 185.

Thompson completed a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, and DeAngelo Horn contributed eight points and five boards.

The Cougars next visit Thomas Jefferson University on Saturday for a 3:30 start in Philadelphia.