RINDGE, N.H. – Senior forward Jasper Grassa (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Classical HS) scored a career-high 30 points and helped the Bentley University men's basketball team close with an 11-5 run in the final minute as the Falcons knocked Franklin Pierce University, the 23rd-ranked team in Division II, out of a tie for first place in Northeast-10 Conference, 66-60, Wednesday night at The Fieldhouse.

After the Ravens ran off eight straight, all by All-Conference senior guard Eric Jean-Guillaume (Stamford, Conn.), to even the game at 55-all, Grassa put the Falcons back in front when he buried a desperation heave from 26 feet to beat the shot clock with 51.5 second left.

Following a Jean-Guillaume miss and rebound by Falcon freshman forward Shakir Phelps (Linden, N.J./Linden HS), Grassa was fouled with 37 seconds left. He buried both, making it a two-possession game at 60-55.

Franklin Pierce misfired on a pair of threes on its ensuing possession and Bentley freshman forward Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills HS) was fouled after claiming his 12th rebound of the night. He knocked down two, putting the visitors up seven, 62-55, with 21.8 seconds left.

Grassa made two more trips to the line in the final 14 seconds, making a pair each time, to lock up the Falcons second straight win.

Bentley, following a 15-point first half by Grassa, took a four-point lead into the break, 30-26, despite being outrebounded by five.

Those rebounding difficulties were fixed during the break with four offensive rebounds, along with a steal, helping Bentley to keep the ball for 91 of the first 92 seconds of the second half. That lengthy stretch on offense included a free throw and a lay-up by freshman forward Joe Glynn (Abington, Mass./Cardinal Spellman HS), stretching the lead to seven at 33-26.

The Ravens, who entered the game even with Saint Anselm at the top of the NE-10 standings, closed to within one with 7:46 left, 44-43. Bentley answered with a freshman-powered 11-4 run, opening an eight-point lead, 55-47, with 2:58 to play. Six-foot-six guard Alex Furness (Wells, Maine/ Wells HS) had six of the ten, along with a couple rebounds, and McFarland had the other four.

Furness got it started with a three from the left wing, and McFarland made it 49-43 with a baseline jumper. Furness answered a pair of FPU baskets with jumpers of his own and McFarland knocked down a 12-footer with 2:58 left to give Bentley its biggest lead of the night.

That was gone in less than 90 seconds as Jean-Guillaume made a pair of free throws before sinking two from downtown.

Grassa buried six three-pointers for the third straight game and helped the Falcons outscore the Ravens 18-3 from the line, making eight of nine. McFarland (10 points, including 6-6 free throws) registered his eighth double-double and tied his career-high in rebounds with 12. Furness finished with seven points and six rebounds off the bench and the Falcons also received seven points from sophomore guard J.P. Koury (Red Bank, N.J./CBA).

Jean-Guillaume and junior forward Ellis Cooper (Northampton, Mass.) accounted for 41 of Franklin Pierce's 60 points, with Jean-Guillaume scoring 14 of his 25 in the second half.

Free throws proved to be the biggest differential as Bentley had a slight edge in field goal percentage (39-38 percent) and rebounds (38-37), the Ravens had one more three-pointer (9-8) and turnovers were even at 15.

Bentley, 9-15 overall and 7-13 NE-10 after winning at Franklin Pierce for the eighth straight time, will play at Stonehill on Saturday at 3:30 pm.