WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon/Thayer Academy) scored a career-high 28, six-seven classmate Pete Blust (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central HS) also set a career scoring high (20) and senior forward Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/Williston Northampton School) netted his 1,000th during a 23-point night as Bentley University shot down Assumption College, 96-87, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Wednesday night at Laska Gym.

The three combined for 71 points on 29-of-38 shooting while helping Bentley connect at a 61 percent as a team, despite making only two of 11 three-pointers. It was the first time the Falcons had three 20-point scorers since Ryan Richmond, Hudson and Colton Lawrence achieved the feat at Southern New Hampshire almost exactly a year earlier (Dec. 5).

Bentley improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Northeast-10 after winning its fourth straight.

There were eight lead changes and ten ties, the last at 63 apiece with 8:56 remaining, before a traditional three-point play from sophomore guard Mason Webb (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness HS) put the visiting Falcons in front to stay.

Webb's basket ignited a 19-3 explosion that put coach Jay Lawson's team up 16, 82-66, with 2:33 left. That stretch included seven points from Webb, six from Mello-Klein, four from Blust and two from Hudson.

Assumption (4-4, 2-2 NE10) wasn't done and using five three-pointers, pulled within six, 93-87, with 24.4 seconds.

Mello-Klein sealed the deal by making three of four free throws in the final 20 seconds. That made Bentley 14 of 15 at the line in the closing 2:21 as the Hounds were fouling when they weren't trying to put a dent into the Falcon lead.

After a first half that was tied five times and saw the Falcons go from seven down to nine up, Bentley took a 36-35 lead into the half after a late Hound run. Mello-Klein led the Falcons with 11 points and Hudson became the Falcons' 54th 1,000-point scorer on a lay-up with 5:23 on the clock.

Mello-Klein had a spectacular shooting night as he made 10 of 13 shots overall, his only three and seven of eight from the charity stripe. He also registered a game-high eight rebounds, five assists and a steal in his 39 minutes on the court.

Hudson made 9 of 14 shot and had seven rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block, and Blust posted his first career 20-point game on 10-of-12 shooting.

Webb was the Falcons' fourth double-figure scorer, with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

Assumption had a pair of 20-point scorers of their own with junior guard Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md.) scoring 27 and junior forward Malik Brown (Waldorf, Md.) following with 20. The Hounds also shot well, finishing at .507 overall and 12 of 31 from three.

Bentley finished a plus-14 on the boards with a total of 52 and also had the advantage in second-chance points (10-3) and points in the paint (52-38). The Greyhounds forced 15 turnovers and outscored the Falcons 26-18 on points off.

Bentley is also on the road Saturday with a 3:30 pm game at Franklin Pierce.