EASTON, Mass. – After storming back in the final six minutes to cut an 18-point deficit to two, the Bentley University men's basketball team had three opportunities to tie or take the lead in the final 30 seconds but wound up dropping a 72-71 decision to Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference action Saturday night at the Merkert Gym.

As a result, the Falcons will go into Tuesday night's regular season finale at Franklin Pierce University needing a victory to earn a berth in the conference championship tournament that starts next Friday. Bentley will go into that contest with a one-game lead over both the Ravens and Merrimack, but would lose the tie-breaker with a loss.

Spoiled with the loss was an outstanding effort by Falcon senior guard Keegan Hyland (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) who finished with 27 points and a career-best 12 rebounds.

Bentley's comeback featured a run of 14 unanswered that brought the visitors to within four, 68-64 with 3:09 left. Senior guard J.P. Koury (Red Bank, N.J./CBA) got it started with a reverse lay-up. Junior forward Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills HS) buried a straightaway three, Hyland nailed a triple from the left corner and then took a charge at the other end.

The run continued with two free throws from Koury, a Hyland second-chance basket after he followed his own missed three and a lay-up by Koury after a steal by junior forward Shaq Phelps (Linden, N.J./ Linden HS).

After three free throws restored the Stonehill lead to seven at 71-64, McFarland and Hyland each knocked down two from the line to make it a three-point game with 49.5 seconds left. Koury came up with a steal on the ensuing possession and Phelps followed with a lay-up that brought the Falcons within one, 71-70 with 37.7 seconds.

Sophomore forward Ryan Logan (Fredericktown, Ohio) interrupted the Falcon charge by making one of two free throws for the Skyhawks with 31 seconds left. After McFarland secured the rebound, Phelps claimed the offensive board off two Hyland misses, a jumper for the tie and a three-ball for the lead.

However, Phelps was called for a travel with 7.6 seconds left, giving the ball back to the home team. Logan repeated his previous trip to the charity stripe, Hyland grabbed the rebound and got it down court to Koury, who was fouled attempting a buzzer-beating three. After four-tenths of a second were put back on the clock, he missed all three, the last intentionally, with Hyland banging in the rebound to account for the final score.

In a game that saw seven lead changes in the first 11 minutes, Stonehill went into the halftime break up eight following the third three-ball of the opening stanza by junior guard Carter Smith (Columbus, Ohio). The Skyhawks took very good care of the ball in the half (only two turns) and dominated in the paint with 22 points, most from six-foot-eight senior Jack Cole (New Providence, N.J.). Fifteen of Cole's 20 points came before intermission.

Stonehill extended its lead to 15 less than eight minutes into the second on the strength of a 9-1 run that included another Smith three. With Bentley making only 6 of its first 22 second-half attempts from the field, the Skyhawk lead peaked at 18, 68-50, with 6:14 showing.

Hyland's night saw him make 10 of 17 overall with a pair of threes, sink five of seven free throws and also come up with two steals and a block. McFarland followed with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, and Phelps gave the Falcons 13 points (on 5-7 shooting), six rebounds, a block and a steal.

Cole and Smith topped the scoring list for Stonehill, finishing with 20 and 16, respectively. The Skyhawks also received 15 from Logan and a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench from six-eight junior Pierce Cumpstone (Bainbridge Township, Ohio).

Stonehill had the shooting advantange (43-38 percent overall, 7-6 in 3's) but Bentley outrebounded its taller opponent, 44-41 overall and 16-13 on the offensive end.

Bentley, with the loss, dropped to 15-11 overall and 10-10 conference. Stonehill, on the other hand, pushed its records to 18-8 and 13-7.

Tuesday's game is a 5:30 pm start.