No. 18 Southern N.H. Stays Unbeaten with 89-80 Win over Bentley University
WALTHAM, Mass. – Graduate forward Chris Walters (Stamford, Conn.) and junior guard Daquaise Andrews (Queens. N.Y.) teamed for 61 points, including 40 in the second half, and 22 rebounds as Southern New Hampshire University snapped Bentley University's three-game winning streak, 89-80, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Wednesday evening.
With the win, the 18th-ranked team Division II stayed unbeaten (9-0, 6-0 NE10) and extended its lead in the conference to a game-and-a-half over Bentley and Saint Anselm. The Falcons dipped to 6-2 overall and 4-1 NE10 after their first conference loss.
The game was square at 41 apiece at the half after the Penmen closed with six unanswered, including a buzzer-beater.
Bentley junior guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./Thomson Collegiate) opened the second half scoring with a top-of-the-key three-pointer, but the next seven minutes belonged to the visitors. The Penmen went off on a 21-4 run to open a 62-48 lead with 12:43 left. Of the 16 points, ten were scored by Andrews and six by Walters.
Bentley gradually battled back, closing to within six (70-64) with 5:13 to play and eventually five. However, the Falcons were never able to make it a one-possession game and Walters closed out the win by making four of four from the line in the final 27 seconds.
Junior forward Chris Gilpin (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) led Bentley with 20 points, eight rebounds and a pair of assists. He knocked down 8 of 13 shots, including four of seven from three-point land.
Bentley's other double-digit scorers were Richmond with 15, junior forward Brandon Wheeler (Stamford, Conn./Trinity Catholic HS) with 13 and sophomore forward Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/ Northampton Williston School) with ten.
Walters turned in 34 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal while Andrews' line included 27 points, nine boards, three helpers, two takeaways and one rejection.
SNHU shot better overall (.492-.469), had one more three-pointer (10-9) and had a 21-11 advantage in free throws made. Bentley had the edge in bench points (21-4) and points in the paint (32-24), and rebounds were even at 34.
Next up for the Falcons is a Saturday afternoon home game against Saint Anselm College (3:30 pm).