WALTHAM, Mass. – Graduate guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon/Thayer Academy), named a first-team All-Conference player earlier in the day, displayed why with 22 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four three-pointers as Bentley University earned its 20^th win of the season, 93-65 over The College of Saint Rose in the quarterfinals of the Northeast-10 Conference Men's Basketball Championships Monday night at the Dana Center.

The wire-to-wire win propelled the 20^th-ranked Falcons into Thursday semifinals where they will take on Saint Anselm College at home. The Hawks advanced with an 81-79 OT victory at the University of New Haven.

Bentley, which reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2015-16 and the 17^th time in program history, was in control from the start with leads of 4-0, 10-3 and 18-5. The 20-4 Falcons sank four of their 15 three-pointers in the opening eight minutes while the Golden Knights misfired on 13 of their first 15 shot attempts.

Among those who played a key role in the fast start was senior guard Brian Wright-Kinsey (Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooks School) with a pair of three-pointers.

A top-of-the-key three from junior guard Isaac Martin (Peachtree Corners, Ga./Norcross HS) made it a 35-16 game with 3:18 to play in the first.

Mello-Klein completed the first half scoring with a three from the right wing and the Falcons took a commanding 46-20 lead into the break. At that point, Bentley had made more three-pointers (10 of 17) than the Golden Knights had total baskets (9 of 34).

Saint Rose scored the first seven points of the second half, but 19 was as close as they would come. The difference peaked at 32, 74-42 with 8:20 to play on a pair of Mello-Klein free throws.

Mello-Klein shot eight of 12 overall and made four of his eight attempts from deep. Next on the scoring list was senior guard Mason Webb (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness HS) with 14 on six-of-nine shooting. He also had seven rebounds.

Martin scored 12 off the bench, sophomore guard Zach Laput (Beacon Falls, Conn./Notre Dame HS) matched his scoring output and Wright-Kinsey added 11. Graduate forward Pete Blust (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale HS) only scored two points, but had eight rebounds, five assists and two rejections.

The game's top scorer was Saint Rose freshman guard Tray Alexander (Freeport, N.Y.) with 24, including ten in the final six minutes.

Bentley outshot the visitors 53-40 percent and sank 15 of 31 from downtown. The Falcons, who gave up only four threes in 17 attempts, also had a bid advantage in rebounds (43-28), second chance points (20-4), assists (19-3) and bench scoring (32-6).