WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University forwards Chase Clarke (Bloomfield, N.J./Newark Academy) and Cooper Farrall (Valparaiso, Ind./Culver Academies) each scored 20 points, but the Falcons fell victim to hot-shooting University of New Haven, 87-80, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Sunday afternoon on the Dana Center's Barbara Stevens Court.
 
New Haven (7-7, 3-4 NE10) connected at a 67 percent clip overall, including 74 percent in the second half when the Chargers made seven of eight from downtown, and made 25 of their 33 shots from inside the arc.
 
Despite that sizzling shooting, Bentley had the lead for a significant portion of the game and was within three points with three minutes to play.
 
Farrall was a force early, scoring eight points in the first six minutes to help Bentley get off to a 16-9 start.
 
After falling behind 24-21, the Falcons embarked on a 19-8 surge to take a 40-32 lead with under 90 seconds remaining in the first half. The final six of those points for Bentley were scored by graduate point guard Aaron Latham (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury HS).
 
Bentley graduate forward Ivan Misic (Toronto, Ont.) opened the second half scoring, but New Haven countered by scoring the next nine points to go up one, 43-42. That was the first of seven lead changes after intermission, the last coming with 12:28 to play on a three-ball from senior guard Mohamed Traore (Hyde Park).
 
After the Falcons evened the score at 62 on a lay-up by sophomore guard Dre Roman (Loiza, P.R.), New Haven used a 10-2 burst to go up eight, 72-64, with 7:10 to play. That run included eight points from junior forward Ethan Simmon (Edison, N.J.), with finished with a game-high 25 points for the Chargers. He was 10 of 13 overall and made four of five from three-point land.
 
A three-point play and an inside basket by Clarke brought Bentley within three, 79-76, with just over three minutes remaining. New Haven scored the next four, including a drive to the basket by Simmon, to extend the lead to seven with 44.6 seconds remaining.
 
Farrall, 9-of-15 from the field with eight rebounds, posted his second 20-point game of the season. Clarke established career-bests for points and rebounds (10) during his 23 minutes off the bench. He made seven of nine shots overall and six of eight free throws.
 
Bentley also received 13 points from junior guard Cash McClure (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook HS) and ten points and seven assists from Latham.
 
Bentley finished with a .500 field goal percentage and outrebounded the Chargers, 30-18. The Falcons made two-thirds of their attempts inside the three-point stripe but were only 6 of 24 from deep.
 
The Falcons, 6-6 overall and 3-3 NE10, will look to bounce back Wednesday with a home game against St. Michael's College.