Press Conference

WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore guard Zach Laput (Beacon Falls, Conn./Notre Dame HS) put up a 26-point, 12-rebound double-double and graduate guard Colton Lawrence (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO HS) sank two three-pointers in overtime as 14^th-ranked and top-seeded Bentley University moved on to the Sweet 16 with a 96-84 victory over sixth-seeded Pace University in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball East Regional Sunday night at the Dana Center.

Bentley, 24-4, will host seventh-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas College, a 71-61 victor over the University of New Haven Tuesday night at 7 pm in the regional championship with a trip to Evansville, Ind. for the Elite Eight on the line.

The Falcons, who were outscored 6-0 in the final 40 seconds of regulation and 17-7 during the final 4:44, opened the extra session with eight straight points. Laput, whose 26 was a career-best, made a pair from the line and Lawrence followed with a couple three-balls, one from the right corner and the other from the left wing.

"Colton is a real talent," praised Lawson. "He's had a difficult career with injuries. It's a nice feeling to root for him."

After the Setters (21-10) closed to within six, senior guard Brian Wright-Kinsey (Brooklyn, N.Y./Brooks School) drained a straightaway three, making it a nine-point game with 1:22 to play. Graduate guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon/Thayer Academy) sealed the deal on Bentley's fifth straight postseason win by making three of four free throws in the final minute.

Laput had a personal 8-0 run late in the first half – a free throw, a running lay-up and a trey from the right side – to make it a seven-point game, and after two Pace free throws, the score after the opening 20 was 39-34 Falcons.

A 9-0 Pace run produced the Setters' only lead of the second half, 48-46, with 13:54 to play. Graduate forward Adrian Amabilino Perez (Barcelona, Spain) answered for Bentley by scoring the game's next seven, restoring the Falcon lead to five. The run grew to 12-2 and the advantage to eight following a three from senior guard Mason Webb (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness) and two Laput charity tosses.

A Mello-Klein triple and two Lawrence free throws produced the game's first double-digit lead, 73-63, with 4:55 to play. The Falcons were still up six with 45 seconds left when the Pace press got to the Falcons. In a nine-second span, junior guard Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y.) had two steals and six free throws, forging an 80-80 tie with 30.3 seconds left.

Mello-Klein attempted a late three but it was off the mark, keeping the game even after regulation.

Five players scored in doubles for both teams with Laput (5 of 8 from deep) the game's high scorer. Lawrence followed with 18, Mello-Klein added 16, Webb netted 14 and Amabilino Perez pitched in with 11 off the bench.

Graduate guard Austin Gilbertson (Etters, Pa.) led Pace with 21 points and senior forward Marc Dadika (Saddle River, N.J.) followed with 17.

Bentley outshot the Setters, 50-36 percent, and controlled the boards (49-37) but were uncharacteristically hampered by turnovers (20) and fouls (23 free throw attempts by Pace). The Falcons shot 56 percent after intermission and finished 13 of 26 from downtown, with Lawrence four of six.

"We've been a good offensive team all season, but the defense was a key again tonight, holding Pace to 36 percent shooting," said Lawson.

In the other game, 28-4 St. Thomas Aquinas outscored New Haven 40-16 over the final 24 minutes after trailing by 14 points. The Spartans were led by senior guard Grant Singleton (Sumter, S.C.), who scored 17 of his 20 in the second half.

"We're very fortunate to move on, and we're happy about it," concluded Lawson.