WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley University Falcons topped the preseason men's basketball coaches poll for the Northeast-10 Conference's Northeast Division but there certainly wasn't any consensus among the coaches.

In the voting released on Tuesday, five different programs received first place votes with Merrimack College and Stonehill College each receiving four, Bentley and Southern New Hampshire three apiece and Saint Anselm one.

In overall points, Bentley's 86 points put coach Jay Lawson's club at the top of the predictions. Merrimack followed with 83, and both Stonehill (81) and Southern New Hampshire (80) were right behind. Saint Anselm took fifth with 63, and the top five were followed by Assumption College, Franklin Pierce and St. Michael's.

 Bentley, 15-12 a year ago, returns players who accounted for 79 percent of the scoring, 78 percent of the rebounds and 80 percent of the assists last season. The Falcons are the only team in the Northeast-10 with two returning All-Conference players, senior forward Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills HS), a second-team honoree with 1,440 points, and grad student Keegan Hyland (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS), a third-team selection.

McFarland was fourth in the NE-10 in scoring last year at 19.1 ppg and Hyland was right behind him at 19.0.

The top of the Southwest Division poll was also tight with Southern Connecticut (8 firsts) edging American International (5 firsts) by just one point, 80-79.

Bentley, which was tabbed number 22 preseason by Division II Bulletin, will play an exhibition game at Boston College Nov. 5 before opening with its annual home tip-off tournament Nov. 13-14.

Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Men's Basketball Poll

Northeast Division

Southwest Division