Ryan Richmond
Ryan Richmond

Richmond Scores 33, but No. 18 Bentley Comes Up Short against New Haven, 92-80

WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University senior All-Region guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./ Thomson Collegiate) scored 33 points, giving him a total of 77 in two games this week, but the Falcons dropped only their third game of the season, 92-80 to the University of New Haven in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.

Bentley, ranked 18th in Division II, fell to 15-3 overall and 8-3 in conference play with the loss their first in 11 home games this season. New Haven, with its seventh win in its last eight games, improved to 11-5 overall and 6-4 NE10, good for first place in the NE10's Southwest Division.

The day started in a positive fashion with Bentley scoring the game's first five points, a short jumper from junior forward Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/Williston Northampton) and a three buried by sophomore guard Colton Lawrence (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO HS).

Nineteen of the game's next 23 points went up on the New Haven side of the scoreboard, producing a 19-9 lead seven-and-a-half minutes into the game. Sophomore guard Derrick Rowland (Cohoes, N.Y.) buried two of his five three-pointers and junior guard Elijah Bailey (Freeport, N.Y.) had five of his team-leading 26 points.

A top-of-the-key three from Bailey and a three-point play the traditional way by junior forward Roy Kane, Jr. (Norwalk, Conn.) pushed the Charger lead to 13, 28-15, midway through the opening half.

Due to the prolific first-half by Richmond, Bentley was able to cut the New Haven advantage to four points a couple times, including 48-44 at the break.

Richmond's opening half saw him pour in 24 points. He buried three of six from downtown, made all three of his two-point attempts and was perfect on his nine free throws.

With Bentley within three with seven-and-a-half gone in the second, New Haven reclaimed control with 10 unanswered making it 71-58 with 8:57 left. Bailey led that charge with a pair of driving lay-ups and two free throws.

The Falcons never got closer than ten the rest of the way and New Haven put the game away by sinking four of six free throws in the final 50 seconds.

Bailey, during his 26-point effort, made nine of 17 shots overall with three treys. Rowland followed with 21 points.

Richmond, fourth on Bentley's all-time scoring list with 1,831 points, finished 10 of 18 from the field, three of eight from deep and ten of ten at the line. His day also included three steals, three assists and a couple rebounds.

The Falcons also received a career-best 12 points from freshman guard Mason Webb (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness HS) off the bench, along with ten points apiece from Lawrence and senior forward Zach Gilpin (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy).

New Haven had the edge in most categories, including field goal percentage (54-47 percent), three-point accuracy (50-33 percent with both clubs making ten), free throws (16-10), rebounds (39-25), second-chance points (9-2) and points in the paint (44-32).

Bentley will look to bounce back Wednesday when the Falcons are on Long Island to face Adelphi University.