WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore guard Jasper Grassa (Lynn/Lynn Classical HS) buried seven of Bentley University's 15 three-pointers en route to a career-high 27 points and junior forward Dan O'Keefe (Lexington/Lexington HS) also had the highest scoring game of his career (19) as the Falcons shot down Southern New Hampshire University, 92-76, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.

Bentley improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the conference, remaining a game out of first place. Southern New Hampshire, which trailed by as many as 25 points in the second half, dropped to 4-3 overall and 2-3 NE-10.

With Grassa leading the way, the Falcons put on a shooting exhibition, shooting 54.5 percent overall (including 58.1 in the second half) and nearly 58 percent from three (15-26).  Grassa achieved the 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including an impressive 7-of-9 from outside the arc.

Bentley started fast, with five three-pointers (including four by Grassa) in the first eight minutes, producing a 26-13 lead.  However, the lead didn't last long as Southern New Hampshire countered by scoring the next 13 points, evening the game at 26.  The Penmen tied the game once more, at 31-31, before a reverse lay-up by freshman guard J.P. Koury (Red Bank, N.J./CBA) with just under seven minutes on the first-half clock put the Falcons in front to stay.

Koury's basket launched a 13-2 run that put Bentley up 44-33 with 3:15 left in the half. It was a team-effort with six different players putting the ball through the net during the spurt.

On top 55-48 with 16 minutes to play, Bentley pulled away with a 24-6 explosion over the next six-plus minutes. That opened a commanding 79-54 lead just past the midpoint of the second half and the only thing left to be decided was the final score.

That spurt began with a three, by junior guard Greg Jacques (Brockton/St. Sebastian's HS), and ended the same way, with Grassa's fifth three-ball of the night, and also included two threes from senior guard Sam Leclerc (Fayette, Maine/Winthrop HS).

Grassa, who also had three assists, and O'Keefe, who had an eight-rebound day, were joined in double figures by Leclerc and freshman forward Andrew Shaw (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy), with with three triples and 13 points.  Jacques dealt a career-high nine assists and also had seven points.

A pair of freshmen led SNHU in scoring, with Elijah Bonsignore (Felton, Del.) coming off the bench for 19 points and B.J. Caldarelli (Manchester, Conn.) following with 17.  The Penmen shot 43 percent and made four less threes than Bentley in the same number of attempts, finishing 11 of 26.

Bentley, in addition to scoring more points from three, had the edge in points in the paint (38-28) as well as off turnovers (14-10) and second chance (17-12).

Bentley will be on the road for a pair of games this week, playing at Franklin Pierce Wednesday at 7:30 and at Stonehill Saturday at 3:30.