Senior Raheem May-Thompson scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Skyhawks this afternoon. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Skyhawks fall for fourth time in five outings despite career-best 21 points from May-Thompson

WALTHAM, Mass. (December 8, 2012) – Bentley University held off Stonehill College down the stretch to claim a 73-66 victory in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action at the Dana Athletic Center this afternoon.

Freshman Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills) scored a season-high 22 points to lead the way for Bentley, netting 11 points in each half, as he finished shooting 9-for-13 from the field, knocking down his lone three-point attempt, and converted 3-of-4 free-throw attempts to go with a game-best nine rebounds.

Sophomore Andrew Shaw (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) came off the bench to drain 4-of-6 three-pointers as part of 5-of-8 shooting overall for 17 points, converting all three free-throw attempts, with two rebounds in 25 minutes. Junior Jasper Grassa (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Classical) rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Falcons with 14 points, aided by 6-for-6 shooting at the line, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal.

Senior Raheem May-Thompson (London, England/Towson (Md.) Catholic) led Stonehill with a career-high 21 points on 9-of-20 shooting, making his lone three-point attempt, and converting 2-of-3 free-throws to go with four rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot. Classmate Adam Fazzini (Drums, Pa./Crestwood) added 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 2-for-4 from deep, and two rebounds. Senior Brian Hamor (Guilderland, N.Y./Bishop Gibbons) chipped in nine points off the bench with a team-high five rebounds.

Bentley finished shooting 45.3-percent (24-for-53) from the field, including 48.1% (13-27) in the first half, and converted 18-of-21 (85.7%) free-throws, outscoring Stonehill 18-5 from the stripe. The Falcons also dominated the glass with a 42-27 rebounding advantage. Stonehill was held to 39.4% (26-66) shooting, including 9-for-25 (36%) from beyond the arc, connecting at 43.8% (14-32) in the second half. The Skyhawks made 5-of-7 free-throw attempts and turned the ball over a season-low nine times, producing a 20-11 advantage for points off turnovers.

Senior Adam Fazzini finished with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting. (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Bentley answered a 14-5 Stonehill run that gave the Skyhawks a one point lead (66-65) after a Fazzini three by holding the visitors scoreless over the final 2:39 to clinch the win. McFarland put the Hawks back on top (67-66) with a layup inside with 1:05 remaining. Hamor missed a jumper at the other end, forcing Stonehill to foul and McFarland stepped up and drained both of his free-throws for a three point lead (69-66) with 35-seconds left.

Stonehill came up empty on its last six shots of the game, including a Hamor three point try after McFarland's free-throws, and Bentley sealed the win at the line by going 6-for-6 over the final 35-seconds.

Stonehill trailed by as much as eight points on three occasions over the final ten minutes, but scored eight points in the span of 1:15 to draw even (60-60) after a Fazzini three with 5:03 remaining. Freshman Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) sparked the run with a three pointer and May-Thompson also added a bucket during the stretch. Bentley regained a five point lead (65-60) with a three-point play by Shaw and two Grassa free-throws, but the Skyhawks answered again with a three-point play from May-Thompson and Fazzini's three for its final lead of the night.

Stonehill scored the first six points of the contest, capped by a three-pointer from senior Sam Markle (Branford, Conn./Saint Thomas More), and led by as much as seven (17-10) with 11:42 left in the first half, following back-to-back three's from junior Mitch Amelio (Carlsbad, Calif./La Jolla Country Day).

Bentley answered with an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to take its first lead (21-17) with 8:48 to go in the half after a Grassa three and McFarland jumper. Stonehill took the lead back (24-23) with Markle's second three of the half and knotted the score (29-29) with 3:07 to play with a Hamor free-throw.

However, the Falcons would take a two point edge (33-31) into halftime and scored five quick points to start the second half and open a seven point lead (38-31) 47-seconds in after a Shaw three and McFarland layup. Stonehill responded with a 10-2 run to regain the lead (41-40) after a May-Thompson layup with 13:58 to play. Bentley opened its first eight point cushion (55-47) after a layup by junior D.J. Guillette (Lunenburg, Mass./Lunenburg) with 8:03 remaining, capping a 10-2 Falcons spree.

Stonehill (3-4, 2-4 NE-10) is off for the week before returning to action next Sunday, December 16, to host Concordia (N.Y.) College for a non-conference matchup at Merkert Gymnasium at 1:30 p.m. Bentley (5-4, 3-3 NE-10) is off until Sunday, December 30, when it hosts Concordia at 2 p.m.

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