PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Junior guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./Thomson Collegiate) reversed a one-point deficit with two free throws with 1:21 left and came down with two key rebounds in the final minute as Bentley University pulled out a 75-74 win over Pace University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Goldstein Fitness Center.

Bentley, which trailed by as many as 13 in the first half and 11 in the second, improved to 11-8 overall and 8-6 NE10, taking over sole possession of third place in the Northeast Division. Pace dropped to 6-16 on the year, including 2-12 conference.

All five Bentley starters scored at least nine points with Richmond and sophomore forward Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/Northampton Williston School) leading the way with 16 apiece.

Down seven midway through the second, the visiting Falcons turned the game around with a dozen unanswered points. Hudson hit a straightaway three and followed with a couple free throws, freshman guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon, Mass./Thayer Academy) knocked down a three from the left wing, senior forward Brandon Wheeler (Stamford, Conn./Trinity Catholic HS) took the ball to the basket for two, and Mello-Klein hit a baseline jumper for a 68-63 advantage.

The Bentley lead evaporated late as Pace scored seven unanswered, including a tip-in by junior forward Greg Polean (Brooklyn, N.Y) that put the Setters back on top, 74-73 with 1:35 left. Richmond returned the lead to the Falcons on his team's next possession and neither team was able to score in the final 80 seconds.

After a Bentley miss went out of bounds, Pace got the ball back with 21.5 ticks left. However, a potential game-winning three was well off the mark and Richmond corralled the miss to lock up the victory.

A streaky first half ended with Pace on top by three, 33-30, on the strength of 16 points from sophomore forward Peyton Wejnert (Point Pleasant, N.J.).

Bentley started the game fast, taking an 11-5 lead after three-pointers from the right side by Richmond, sophomore guard Seth Stankiewicz (Reading, Pa./Hill School) and junior forward Zach Gilpin (Hampden, Maine/ Hampden Academy).

The next 11-plus minutes belonged to the Setters as they embarked on a 26-7 burst to open a 31-18 lead.
               Bentley finished the first half with a 12-2 run, with both Richmond and Stankiewicz scoring five to get the Falcons back into the game.

Pace regained control once play resumed, using five three-pointers (in six attempts) to outscore the Falcons 21-13 over the first 7:15 to open a 54-43 lead.

Bentley's starters combined for 64 of the Falcons' 75 points with both Richmond and Hudson complementing their 16 with seven rebounds. Hudson was four of seven from the floor and Richmond connected on four of eight three-balls.

Gilpin put up a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double and Stankiewicz buried three triples en route to 11 points. Off the bench, Mello-Klein pitched in with nine points and three steals.

Wejnert powered Pace with 26 points and six rebounds, and the Setters also received 17 points from freshman guard Brendan Jacobs (Cambria Heights, N.Y.).

While both teams shot 44 percent overall, Bentley had the advantage from downtown, hitting 15 of 34 as compared to Pace's 9 of 25. The Falcons committed only nine turns, two fewer than the home team, and were a perfect 8-for-8 free throws.

Bentley is also on the road Wednesday for a 7:30 game at Stonehill.