WALTHAM, Mass. – No program in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball history has won more regular season titles than the Bentley University Falcons. They have nine all-time, including six since 2005.

The Falcons won't win a tenth this season but on Wednesday night, they can have an impact on who does earn the championship. Bentley, coming off a 23-point win over Southern New Hampshire, will be playing a 7:30 pm contest at Franklin Pierce University, which enters the final nine days and three games of the regular season even at the top of the standings with Saint Anselm College.

When the two teams met for the first time this season, Bentley held a 60-49 lead after a three-pointer from junior guard Jasper Grassa (Lynn/Lynn Classical HS) with about 3:50 left. The Falcons didn't score again and Franklin Pierce closed with 12 unanswered, including two free throws with 2.4 seconds left, to escape the Dana Center with a 61-60 win.

Grassa and freshman forward Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills HS), the current NE-10 Rookie of the Week, have both been playing their most productive basketball of the season for a young Bentley team, which will enter Wednesday with records of 8-15 overall and 6-13 NE-10.

Grassa, currently number two in the NE-10 in three-pointers with 69, buried 12 of 19 from downtown in the last two games and has made at least four seven times in the last 11, averaging 3.9 a game during that stretch with a .439 accuracy mark.

Grassa put up 26 against St. Michael's and 20 in the SNHU game last week, a hot spell that boosted his season average to a team-best 14.9.

McFarland, who has seven double-doubles to his credit, has averaged 20.7 points and 9.7 rebounds during the last three games. That's elevated his scoring norm to 14.6, and his 8.0 rebound average ranks sixth in the conference.

Sophomore guard J.P. Koury (Red Bank, N.J./CBA) is Bentley's third double-figure scorer with his average standing at 10.9. During February, his scoring (11.6) and rebounding (6.0) averages are all above his season numbers, and he's been perfect at the foul line.

Other Falcons who have increased their scoring this month are senior guard Mike Topercer (Scottsdale, Ariz./New Hampton Prep) and freshman forward Shakir Phelps (Linden, N.J./Linden HS). Phelps has provided 6.2 ppg this month, raising his season norm to 4.1, and Topercer, the starter at the point, has averaged 4.6 points, four rebounds and 3.8 assists in February, all above his season production.

Franklin Pierce, ranked 23rd nationally, enters Wednesday's game at 18-5 overall and 15-4 after winning their last six, including a 75-66 decision over Saint Anselm Saturday to draw even with the Hawks at the top of the standings. The Ravens aren't far away from an even better record as the last four losses have been by a total of 13 points.

FPU features one of the premier duos in the NE-10 in senior guard Eric Jean-Guillaume and junior forward Ellis Cooper. Jean-Guillaume leads the Ravens at 15.3 points and his .496 field goal percentage is the best among NE-10 guards. Cooper makes nearly 55 percent of his shots and is averaging 12.9 points.

Opposing teams also must concern themselves with sophomore forward Ryen Vilmont (11.6 ppg, 40 percent from three) and six-foot-eight junior Adrianos Vouliotakis (9.9 ppg, 55 percent shooting).

Following the Pierce game, only a road encounter at Stonehill Saturday and a home game with UMass-Lowell next Tuesday remain on the regular season schedule.