Twitty netted a career-high 18 points for the Skyhawks tonight. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

Richmond and Gilpin combine for 52 points in Falcons win

WALTHAM, Mass. (November 15, 2017) – Bentley University held off a Stonehill College comeback from 15-points down in the second half to claim an 89-86 triumph in the Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball opener for both at the Dana Athletic Center tonight.

Juniors Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ontario/Williston-Northampton) and Zach Gilpin (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) combined for 52 points to lead Bentley to the win. Richmond netted a game-high 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the field, while converting 8-of-9 free throws, to go with three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Gilpin added 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, connecting on 5-of-6 from the stripe. Freshman Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon, Massachusetts/Thayer Academy) contributed a double-double with 17 points and a game-high ten rebounds, with four assists, connecting on 6-of-8 shots from the floor.

Sophomore Brandon Twitty (Randolph, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) led six Stonehill players in double-figures with a career-high 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting with two assists, while senior Isaiah Bess (LaGrange, Maine/Hampden Academy) came off the bench to add 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor, while draining 4-of-5 free-throws, to go with four rebounds and two blocked shots. Sophomore Will Moreton (Minneapolis, Minnesota/Edina) added 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 2-for-4 from three-point distance, five rebounds and two assists, while classmate Dan Largey (Oceanport, New Jersey/Peddie School) contributed ten points, six boards and two assists. Senior Ryan Roach (Weymouth, Massachusetts/Cardinal Spellman) chipped in with a career-best 12 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Moreton added 14 points, five rebounds and two assists for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard)

After a first half in which the teams emerged deadlocked at 37-37, Bentley jumped out to a quick nine point lead (50-41) less than three minutes into the second half, sparked by a three-point play from Mello-Klein and four points from Gilpin. Stonehill closed the gap to four (50-46) after a three-point play from Bess two minutes later, but five straight points by Gilpin had the Falcons lead back at nine (55-46) with 14:20 remaining.

The teams traded baskets until Bentley reeled off eight straight points to open a 15-point cushion (71-56) after a layup from sophomore Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/Williston-Northampton) with 8:46 remaining. Stonehill worked its deficit to ten (77-67) with six minutes to play and then used an 11-2 run to close within one (79-78) after a Twitty three with 3:39 on the clock.

Bentley held, though, connecting on all eight free-throws the rest of the way, including 6-of-6 shooting by Richmond, who also added a layup, to offset three points by Bess and a Largey three-pointer down the stretch to seal the win.

Stonehill (0-3, 0-1 NE10) returns to Merkert Gymnasium on Saturday to host Saint Michael's College for an NE10 matchup at 3:30 p.m. Bentley (3-0, 1-0 NE10) visits Jefferson University on Saturday at noon.

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