W0RCESTER, Mass. – Graduate guard Colton Lawrence (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO HS) and senior guard Mason Webb (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness HS) each scored 19, and graduate guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon/Thayer Academy) sank five balls from distance, as Bentley University held off Assumption University, 76-71, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Wednesday night at Laska Gym.

Bentley, ranked 17^th in this week's NABC Division II coaches poll, improved to 18-3 overall and assured itself of at least a tie for the top spot in the conference's Northeast Division. The win was the team's fourth straight and 12^th in the last 13 games

Even at 53 apiece with eight-and-a-half minutes left, Bentley used a 7-2 spurt over a span of 59 seconds to go in front for good. Lawrence hit a hook in the lane, Webb scored on a drive and Mello-Klein made it 60-55 with a triple from the right corner.

After Assumption made it a one-possession game with 3:22 left, Bentley pushed the lead back to seven, 71-64, on a putback from senior post Pete Blust (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central HS) and a long jumper by Webb.

The Falcons locked up the victory in the final 30 seconds with a steal and free throw by Lawrence and two free throws by Webb.

Bentley started fast, vaulting out to a 22-9 lead after seven minutes. All five starters and sixth-man Brian Wright-Kinsey (Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooks School) were involved with the scoring with Wright-Kinsey, Webb and Lawrence each netting five points.

Assumption battled back, eventually tying the game at 38 apiece on a fastbreak layup by graduate guard Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md.) with 2:04 left. It stayed that way until Mello-Klein sent his team to the locker room up three after connecting from the left corner 1.5 seconds before the horn.

There would be five ties and two lead changes in the second half before Lawrence's go-ahead basket with 8:17 to play.

Webb shot 7 of 13 overall and led the team in rebounds with nine. Lawrence complemented his 18 with five rebounds and four helpers, and Mello-Klein's night included 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Kelly led four double-figure scorers for Assumption, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting.

Bentley had the shooting edge (47-44 percent) and owned the boards, 45-29. Both teams sank 10 three-pointers and Assumption had a slight advantage at the line (9-6 in makes, 15-12 in attempts).

Next up for the Falcons is a Sunday matinee at Franklin Pierce, the second-place team in the Northeast Division.