PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.  – Senior All-Conference forward Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/ Camden Hills HS) scored 30 points, including the 1,800th of his career, and grabbed 10 rebounds to power Bentley University to a 73-55 win over Pace University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Wednesday evening at the Goldstein Fitness Center.

McFarland's second 30-10 game of the season allowed the Falcons to maintain their hold on first place in the NE-10's Northeast Division. Bentley improved to 14-3 overall with its tenth win in 11 conference games while Pace, limited to 1 of 19 shooting threes, dropped to 7-12 overall and 4-7 in the NE-10.

Tied at 33 early in the second half, Bentley gradually built the lead over the next 11 minutes . McFarland broke the deadlock with a three from the left wing with 18:30 left and graduate student Keegan Hyland (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) followed with another triple a little more than a minute later, making it 39-33.

After a Setter basket, Bentley scored 13 of the game's next 18 points to open a 52-40 advantage with 11:17 showing on the game clock. Key plays during that scramble including a three from junior guard Matt Barr (Stratham, N.H./Cushing Academy), a lay-up by sophomore forward Brandon Wheeler (Stamford, Conn./Trinity Catholic HS) after the Falcons won a scramble for a loose ball, a drawn charge by freshman guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./Thompson Collegiate) and a three-pointer drained by Richmond.

A McFarland three-point play the traditional way by extended the lead to 17, 61-44, with 7:50 to play.

Pace got within 12 twice in the last four-and-a-half minutes, the last time on a lay-up by senior guard Shelton Mickell (Queens, N.Y.) with 3:03 to play. Wheeler countered with a trey from the right corner with 2:32 left and senior guard Alex Furness (Wells, Maine/Wells HS) followed with a lay-up on the Falcons' next possession to lock up the outcome, again making it a 17-point spread (71-54).

Pace outshot the Falcons in the first half, 43-32 percent while doing most of its damage inside. However, an early parade to the foul line (9-10 in the half) allowed the Falcons to maintain the lead for most of the half. A 10-4 spurt , including three lay-ups by Mickell, over the final 6:20 enabled the Setters to erase a six-point deficit and send the two clubs into the break all even.

McFarland, number three on Bentley's all-time scoring list, struggled from three (1-6), but knocked down 9 of 15 from inside the arc and 9 of 10 at the foul stripe. In addition, the number two shot blocker in Bentley history added two more to his total.

Wheeler, who tied his career-high of 13 points, was the only other Falcon to score in doubles as he made five of his nine shots and came within one rebound of a double-double. Richmond provided nine off the bench and both Barr and Furness scored eight. Hyland was limited to five points but helped Bentley dominate the boards, 49-34.

Mickell led Pace with 20, but NE-10 three-point leader Ryan Peterson (Wethersfield, Conn.) was held to one long ball in eight attempts.

Bentley shot 54 percent in the second half and finished the game at .419. while the Falcon D kept its opponent under .400 for the fifth time in seven games (and third straight) with Pace finishing at .359. The Falcons also had the edge at the line, making 15 of 19 as compared to the Setters' 8 of 13.

Bentley will conclude a string of three straight on the road Saturday with a 2 pm game at Le Moyne College.