OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – Senior All-Region guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./Thomson Collegiate) scored a game-high 24 points and junior forward Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/ Williston Northampton HS) put up a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double as Bentley University, the 17th-ranked team in Division II, rolled to a 94-57 win over NYIT in non-conference men's basketball action Wednesday at the NYIT Recreation Hall.

In its final game before a 10-day holiday break, Bentley set season-bests for largest margin of victory, fewest points allowed, lowest opponent field goal percentage (.342) and lowest opponent three-point percentage (.174).

After a slow start that saw the Falcons looking at a 15-5 deficit before the game was four minutes old, Bentley seized control with the first of three major runs it would have during the game. A top-of-the-key three from senior forward Zach Gilpin (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) launched a string of 15 unanswered that put the visitors in front to stay.

The run also included seven points by Richmond and was capped by a three-point play by Hudson.

After a Bear basket, the run grew to 27-4 and the Falcon advantage increased to 13, 32-19 with 9:29 left. The second half of the surge included triples by Richmond and freshman guard Mason Webb (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness HS), as well as a traditional three-point play from Richmond.

At the half, the lead stood at 11, 44-33, with 11 offensive rebounds and 14 second-chance points helping to keep NYIT within reach.

A 15-3 run early in the second extended the Bentley advantage past 20 for the first time, 61-40 with 14 minutes remaining. All five starters contributed points during the run with sophomore guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon, Mass./Thayer Academy) pitching in with five (a three from the left wing and a driving lay-up).

Bentley pushed its lead to 35, 86-51, on the strength of a 23-5 explosion that began with 15 straight Falcon points. Hudson, with six, and Richmond, with five, led the scoring during that stretch.

The Falcon lead eventually peak at 39 twice in the final two-and-a-half minutes.

Richmond, with his 24, surpassed Derek Dixon '87 on Bentley's all-time scoring list and now stands ninth with 1,657 points. Fifteen more will elevate him past three more former Falcon standouts to sixth place all-time.

In addition to registering his fourth double-double, Hudson came up with a pair of steals. His 7-for-13 shooting included both a three-ball and a dunk, and he was 6-of-8 at the foul stripe.

Sophomore guard Colton Lawrence (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO HS) followed with 13 points, Mello-Klein added nine and Gilpin finished with seven.

NYIT's top scorer was sophomore forward Obono Bramble (Kingstown, N.Y.) with 14.

Bentley won the rebounding battle, 45-42, with all five starters claiming at least five. Richmond followed Hudson with seven and Lawrence collected six.

The Falcons shot 49 percent overall and dominated at the line. With NYIT whistled for 28 fouls, they got to the stripe 31 times and made 23. In contrast, the 1-10 Bears were just three of six.

Bentley's next game is at home Dec. 30 against Bridgeport.