SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior guard Cash McClure (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook HS) and sophomore forward Cooper Farrall (Valparaiso, Ind./Culver Academies) each recorded 20-point double-doubles as Bentley University pulled away in the second half for an 87-72 win over American International College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at Butova Gymnasium.
 
McClure finished with 23 points and ten rebounds, and Farrall added 20 points and 11 rebounds. Neither one committed a turnover while playing a total of 68:52.
 
Bentley, which outscored the Yellow Jackets 42-23 over the final 17 minutes, remained tied for second place in the Northeast-10 and improved to 17-8 overall, including 14-5 NE10. Coach Jay Lawson's team is 11-2 since January 8.
 
The first 23 minutes were back-and-forth with 17 lead changes and seven ties.
 
It was 43-41 Falcons at the half despite AIC shooting significantly better, 59-38 percent. A 10-1 edge in made free throws and a 12-0 advantage in second-chance points helped Bentley offset that.
 
The second half saw Bentley take charge with runs of 13-0 and 10-0.
 
The 13-0 enabled the Falcons to turn a four-point deficit into a 58-49 advantage with 12:40 to play. Farrall and graduate guard Aaron Latham (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury HS) each connected from deep, McClure hit a couple jumpers and a three-ball from junior forward Joe Carroll (Center Grove, N.J/Don Bosco HS) capped the surge.
 
After the Yellow Jackets pulled to within six, Bentley regained control by scoring ten in a row to go up 81-64 with four minutes left. During that stretch, the Falcons denied AIC on four straight possessions.
 
The run began with back-to-back threes by McClure and continued with two free throws from Farrall and a trifecta from graduate forward Ivan Misic (Toronto, Ont.).
 
Keys to the victory included Bentley's 16-9 advantage in three-pointers, superior free throw shooting (15 of 16, as compared to AIC's 3 of 9) and rebounding excellence (42-28).
 
The Falcons scored the first 17 second chance points of the game and finished with a 19-8 edge.
 
AIC shot better, .508-444, and outscored the Falcons in the paint, 39-12.
 
The Yellow Jackets were led by Northeast-10 scoring leader Justice Ellison, who buried four of seven threes and finished with 24 points.
 
The regular season will end Tuesday with Bentley hosting Southern New Hampshire.