Ryan Richmond
Ryan Richmond

No. 15 Bentley Pushes Region-Best Record to 12-1 with 76-61 Win over Assumption

WALTHAM, Mass. – All-Region senior guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./Thomson Collegiate) scored a game-high 21 points and eclipsed 1,700 for his career as Bentley University boosted its East Region-best record to 12-1 with a 76-61 win over Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Wednesday night at the Dana Center.

Bentley, ranked 15th in Division II, extended its winning streak to four and improved to 6-1 in conference play. Assumption fell to 5-8 overall and 1-5 NE10.

The Falcons, after falling behind briefly, regained control with a 10-2 spurt to finish a slow-paced first half with a 32-26 lead. A driving lay-up by Richmond put Bentley in front to stay, 28-26 with 2:20 left in the opening stanza, and the first half scoring ended with two free throws from junior guard Seth Stankiewicz (Reading, Pa./Hill School) and another Richmond drive.

Bentley carried the momentum into the second half, outscoring the Greyhounds 20-9 over the first eight minutes to open a 52-35 lead. All five starters scored during that stretch with senior forward Zach Gilpin (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) and sophomore guard Colton Lawrence (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO HS) leading the way with five apiece.

The Falcon lead peaked at 58-40 when Lawrence knocked down the second of his three trifectas with 9:12 left.

Assumption responded with 13 unanswered to pull within five, 58-53, with 6:41 remaining. Sophomore guard Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md.) scored the first eight and the run also included a three-ball from freshman forward Cal Connelly (Rochester, N.H.).

Bentley countered by scoring the game's next seven points and 15 of the next 18, making it a 73-56 game with 2:15 left. Included were three-balls buried by Richmond and Lawrence.

Richmond, who now has 1,702 points for his career, complemented his 21 points with four assists, three rebounds, two steals and seven fouls drawn.

Lawrence followed with 16, Gilpin scored 15 and junior forward Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/Williston Northampton HS) totaled 11. Sophomore guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon/ Thayer Academy), with four points, was the only Falcon started not to reach doubles, but he led the team with a +26.

Lawrence, who drained three of four from downtown, had six rebounds, as did Hudson, Gilpin and Mello-Klein.

Junior forward Damien Rance (Melbourne, Australia) led Assumption with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Bentley outshot the Hounds 52-42 percent, attempted 16 more free throws (16-of-20 as compared to 3-of-4) and finished a plus-four on the boards, 33-29.

On Saturday on Long Island, the Falcons will close out their non-conference schedule with a 1 pm encounter at Molloy College.