NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – A 30-13 run over a ten-minute span in the first half and a game-ending 13-2 burst enabled Merrimack College to knock Bentley University from the ranks of the unbeaten, 83-70, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Wednesday night on Hammel Court.

Bentley, ranked 21st nationally in this week's NABC Division II coaches' poll, had shot 55 percent overall and 44 percent from three while winning its first seven games this fall.  However, that hot shooting was nowhere to be found in this one as 35 percent accuracy overall and 7-of-33 from downtown brought an end to an 11-game winning streak that dated back to February.

Bentley, which trailed by as many as 13 in the first half, made it a one possession game six times in the second, the last at 70-68 on a lay-up by sophomore forward Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills HS) with 2:47 left.

The next eight points went up on the Merrimack side of the scoreboard with sophomore guard JT Strickland (Laurel, Md.) making a lay-up, classmate Troy Hammel (Valencia, Calif.) hitting two from the line, Strickland scoring on a driving lay-up and sophomore Gelvis Solano (New York, N.Y.) making it a ten-point spread with a reverse lay-up.

 Following a second-chance basket by McFarland, Merrimack made five of six free throws in the final 41.1 seconds to lock up the victory and improve to 5-2 overall (3-2 NE-10).

After trailing by as many as 13 in the first half, a 7-2 start to the second brought the visitors within two, 43-41, less than three minutes after play resumed. A couple minutes later with the differential at three (49-46), Merrimack tallied 11 unanswered, a run ignited by two Solano free throws and a three-ball from junior guard Ryan Woumm (Lynn).

Faced with its biggest deficit of the night, Bentley battled back, using a 15-4 run to get back within three, 64-61, with five minutes left. Sophomore guard Alex Furness (Wells, Maine/Wells HS) had six during that stretch and McFarland sank six free throws.

Merrimack pushed it back to seven at 68-61 before Bentley used a three from junior forward Andrew Shaw (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy), two free throws from junior guard JP Koury (Red Bank, N.J./CBA) and the McFarland lay-up to get within two at 70-68.

Bentley had the lead only once, scoring the game's first six points on three-balls from Shaw and Koury, both from the left wing.

McFarland led four double-figure scorers for Bentley as he posted his 12th career double-double (17 points, 10 boards) and also had three assists. Shaw followed with 16, Koury tallied 13 and Furness finished with 10.

Solano and sophomore Anthony Barry (Uxbridge) each scored 18 for Merrimack with Barry adding ten assists.

Merrimack shot 42 percent and committed only eight turnovers. The Warriors were also able to capitalize on Bentley's 13 giveaways, turning those int0 23 points.

Bentley will look to bounce back Saturday with a 3:30 pm home game against St. Michael's College.