WATERBURY, Conn. – Bentley University senior guard Zach Laput (Beacon Falls, Conn./Notre Dame HS) hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 12.3 seconds left, but a putback by six-nine junior Kyle Alcy (Everett, Mass.) with one second left gave Post University a 74-73 win over Bentley University in non-conference men's basketball Sunday afternoon at the Drubner Center.

Post, the second-ranked team in the Division II East Region, improved to 8-1 while Bentley slipped to 6-5. It was the fourth Falcon loss of the season that was decided by three or less, or in overtime.

There was never much separation in a game that included 12 lead changes and 11 ties. Bentley's biggest lead came with 7:44 left in the first half, 27-20, following an 8-0 run, and Post's biggest was five, 66-61 with 5:16 remaining in the second.

Bentley, down 70-66 with just under 100 seconds left, cut the difference in half on a lay-up by sophomore guard Cash McClure (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook HS) with 1:23 left. Thirty seconds later, it went back to a four, 72-68, on another Alcy second-chance basket. He was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw that would have made it five.

A reverse lay-up by McClure with 0:38 on the clock again made it a two-point game, 72-70.

Following a missed Post free throw, Laput collected the rebound. That possession led to a Laput straightaway three that gave Bentley its first lead since he made his first basket of the night, a trey with 12:21 left.

After a couple timeouts and a missed lay-up, Alcy grabbed his fifth offensive rebound of the game and netted the game-winner with a hook shot.

Bentley had time for a long inbound pass and a quick shot, but Laput's turn-around three was just long.

Graduate guard Kellan Bochenek (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont HS) led the Falcons with a career-best 20 points. His six three-pointers in ten attempts was also a career-high, and he contributed six rebounds as well.

Senior forward Ivan Misic (Toronto, Ont.) and McClure also had solid performances at the offensive end. Misic scored 19 on 8-of-11 shooting and McClure matched his career-best with 15 points.  Laput, the second-leading scorer in the Northeast-10, was limited to eight points, but did provide seven rebounds and six assists.

Junior guard Robert Sanders (Naugatuck, Conn.) led Post with 17 points and Alcy was one of three Eagles with 12 points.

Bentley outshot the home team, 49-46 percent overall and 12-7 in three-pointers, but was hurt by 16 turnovers that led to 18 Post points. In addition, 15 offensive rebounds for the Eagles resulted in 20 points, including their final four.

The Falcons' final game of 2023 will be Tuesday, a 7 pm home game against the University of Bridgeport.