Jordan Mello-Klein
Jordan Mello-Klein

Mello-Klein Shines as Bentley Shoots Past Stonehill, 92-61

WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon/Thayer Academy) scored a career-high 22 points and also amassed six assists and six rebounds as the Bentley University Falcons used sizzling three-point shooting to win their Northeast-10 opener, 92-61 over Stonehill in Northeast-10 men's basketball Tuesday night at the Dana Center.

Bentley, a perfect 5-0 at home and 5-1 overall, buried 13 of its first 17 three-pointers and finished at 13 of 19 from deep, a .684 success rate. The Falcons finished with six double-figure scorers for the second time in four days.

Three straight baskets from senior forward Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/Northampton Williston School) broke a 2-2 tie and gave Bentley a lead it would never relinquish.

The first-half lead peaked 18, the first time at 35-17 with four minutes to play, following an 18-4 explosion that included three-pointers from sophomore guard Brian Wright-Kinsey (Brooklyn, N.Y./ Brooks School), senior guard Seth Stankiewicz (Reading, Pa./Hill School), Mello-Klein and sophomore guard Mason Webb (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness HS).

Bentley started the second half with a 9-1 spirt to go up 23 at 52-29, but Stonehill countered with an 11-2 run to draw to within 14, 54-40, with 14 minutes left.

Any hopes the visiting Skyhawks (3-4, 1-2 NE10) were dashed as Bentley scored 17 of the next 20 points to build a 71-43 lead with 8:55 to play. Both Mello-Klein and Stankiewicz had five during that run.

Bentley had another run later in the game, 11-2 to take its biggest lead of the night, 85-50.

Mello-Klein, who shot 9-of-14 overall and sank all four of his attempts beyond the arc, was followed in the scoring column by Hudson, Webb and sophomore forward Adria Amabilino Perez (Barcelona, Spain), all with 12 points. The Falcons also received 11 apiece from junior forward Pete Blust (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale HS) and Stankiewicz.

Hudson completed his double-double with 10 rebounds and Blust came within one rebound of having one of his own.

Junior guard Owen Chose (Eden Prairie, Minn.) led Stonehill with 19 points. Seniors Will Moreton and Brandon Twitty, who came in with a combined average of more than 36 points, were limited to 23 points on 9 of 24 shooting.

Bentley shot 55 percent overall and had a 13-rebound advantage, 41-28. Stonehill shot 43 percent and turned it over 15 times, five more than the Falcons. Points off turnovers (19-7), points in the paint (42-26) and bench points (27-10) all favored the home team.

Bentley will be back at home Sunday for a 1:00 non-conference match-up with American International.