Bentley University

On February 8, 1969, Ray Andersen exploded for 40 points against Sacred Heart University, the most prolific single-game scoring performance during the first quarter-century of the Bentley men’s basketball program.

Ray, a 1971 graduate who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986, was also the first player in the college’s history to score 35 or more points more than once (he did it three times) and remains the only player in program history to average at least 20 points per game for a career, finishing at 20.1. His 22.8 average as a sophomore was the school record until the 2017-18 season.

A 6'5" forward, he is currently 21st  on the all-time Bentley scoring list with 1429 points, after finishing his career at number two, and sixth in career rebounds. His 12.7 career rebounding average is the second-best figure in Bentley history, exceeded only-by Hall of Famer Bob Walker's 13.5.

Unlike most of Bentley's top scorers, Andersen played just three years of varsity basketball, since, when he entered the college in 1967, freshmen were not eligible for varsity play. Instead, he averaged better than 24 points for the Falcon freshman team, including an amazing 46 in the opener against Boston State.
 
The only player in Bentley history to lead the team in scoring in three seasons, Andersen captained the 1970-71 squad, which won 16 of 24 games and was the college’s first to reach a postseason tournament. The Falcons, in just their eighth varsity season, made their only NAIA tournament ap appearance, losing to Rhode Island College, 91-89, in the opening round, as Ray Heulbid hit a foul-line jumper with three seconds remaining. Andersen closed out his collegiate  career with a 20-point effort.

The honors Andersen received during his  career were numerous. He was selected to the  ECAC Weekly Honor Roll eleven times (including five times as a senior), earned All- ECAC Division II honors as a senior, gain ed NAIA All-America honorable mention and was selected to play in the New England  Hall of Fame Senior All-Star Game.

 "Ray was the man we counted on," remembered Al Shields, the college's basketball coach from 1963-78. "When it came to consistency, you couldn't beat Ray. Day in and day out, we knew he'd do the job."