WALTHAM, Mass. – Despite a strong start to the game, the Bentley men's basketball team lost to Southern Connecticut, 63-60, Sunday afternoon.
The Falcons (6-4, 1-2 NE10) opened the Northeast 10 conference contest with a 14-0 lead through seven minutes. Bentley was scoring from all levels during the opening run, from 3-pointers by
Jordan Elliott and
Cash McClure, to an offensive tip-in by
Cooper Farrall.
Defensively, the Falcons weren't giving up offensive rebounds during that early 14-0 run. Still, Southern Connecticut's (6-4, 2-0 NE10) first points of the game were from a second-chance opportunity.
Bentley took a 32-18 lead into halftime, but it was a near role reversal to start the second half. The Falcons didn't make a shot from the floor through the first seven minutes of the second half. Bentley managed four points during that stretch thanks to free-throws by
Ivan Misic and
Chase Clarke.
While the Falcons were in a rut offensively, the Owls clawed back to tie the game, 36-36. Southern Connecticut built up a 47-40 lead with 7:30 left in regulation, but the Falcons weren't going away quietly.
Bentley entered the weekend as the one of the best free-throw shooting teams in the nation, and so it was free throws by
Mantas Zilys and McClure that cut Bentley's deficit to one possession, 47-44, with seven minutes remaining.
A driving layup by McClure made it a one-point game, 50-49, with 5:43 on the clock. The Owls pushed their lead back to seven points, 59-52, with 90 seconds remaining.
Again, the Falcons needed their sharp free-throw shooting to make a comeback bid. Between free-throw makes by McClure and Elliott, with a defensive stop in between, the Falcons got to within a possession, 59-56. However, the Falcons were unable to even the score down the stretch.
McClure notched his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Farrall finished one rebound shy of double-double, totaling 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Falcons aim to bounce back at Saint Anselm Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m.
