WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior guard Aaron Latham (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury HS) scored 22, classmate Zach Laput (Beacon Falls, Conn./Notre Dame HS) followed with 21 and both sank clutch free throws in the final ten seconds as Bentley University extended its win streak to five, 79-75 over The College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium.

Bentley took sole possession of second place in the conference while improving to 18-8 overall and 13-6 Northeast-10. Saint Rose, despite 48 percent shooting from outside the arc, dropped to 10-15, including 7-12 conference.

With the exception of Bentley's 13-0 start, there was very little separation between the two teams most of the afternoon. Over the final 28 minutes, the biggest gap between the two was just seven points and that was only for 13 seconds.

Bentley fell behind by six, 57-51, with just under 12 minutes to play after the Golden Knights ran off nine straight points.

The Falcons countered with a 17-5 run to reverse the six-point difference and go back in front for good, 68-62, with 4:40 left. All five Bentley starters figured in the scoring with sophomore guard Cash McClure (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook HS) scoring five, including a go-ahead basket on a second-chance opportunity, and both senior forward Ivan Misic (Toronto, Ont.) and graduate wing Kellan Bochenek (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont HS) connecting from downtown.

Down the stretch, Laput hit a straight-away three after Saint Rose cut it to two and a driving lay-up by Latham with 1:45 on the clock put Bentley up 75-68.

A three by junior guard Tristian Jeffries (Jersey City, N.J.) and two free throws by six-nine junior Ata Turgut (Ankara, Turkey) brought the Golden Knights back to two with 17.7 left.

Saint Rose was forced to foul and both Latham and Laput came up big with each converting both ends of a one-and-one in the final ten seconds.

Bentley's fast start featured four three-balls with Latham hitting two and both Laput and Misic one apiece. After making four of their first five from deep, the Falcons were just six of 22 the rest of the way.

Saint Rose used the long ball to get back into the game, making nine of 14 in a first half that ended with the Falcon lead at three, 43-40.

Both teams shot 42 percent overall but a slight advantage from the line (13 to 10) and a rebound dominance helped Bentley earn the W. Rebounds finished at 47-34 and the Falcons turned 16 offensive rebounds into 22 second-chance points.

Latham, who was seven of ten overall and three of five from downtown, also had five rebounds and five assists. Laput stuffed the stat sheet with 12 rebounds (seven offensive), five steals and three assists.

Bentley also received a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double from McClure and 11 points and six boards from Misic.

For Saint Rose, freshman guard Christian-Pierre Louis (Plainfield, N.J.) scored 19 and Jeffries had 18.

Bentley's final road game of the regular season will be Wednesday at Franklin Pierce.