BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Despite a 32-point, 11-rebound  double-double from senior All-Northeast-10 forward Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills HS), the Bentley University men's basketball team dropped its first game of the season Saturday afternoon, falling to the University of Bridgeport, 89-86, in non-conference action at Hubbell Gymnasium.

While Bentley claimed a 77-75 win at Merrimack College on Wednesday on a late three, the Falcons couldn't get a potential game-tying triple to fall at the buzzer this time after battling back from nine down with five-plus minutes to play.

With his team down 75-66 as the clock ticked under five, junior guard Ferguson Duke (Dartmouth, N.S./Hun School (N.J.)) launched a 12-2 run that gave Bentley a 78-77 lead with three minutes to play.

The spurt also included five points from senior guard Alex Furness (Wells, Maine/Wells HS) and four points from 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-America Keegan Hyland (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS).

After an 8-2 run put Bridgeport (1-2) back on top, McFarland drained a three-pointer from the right wing with 18.1 seconds left to cut the Purple Knight lead to two, 85-83. Four Bridgeport free throws, sandwiched around a three-point play by McFarland, left Bentley down three with 4.3 seconds. However, Hyland's three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark and the Falcons fell to 3-1.

The triumvirate of McFarland, Hyland and Furness accounted for 68 of Bentley's 86 points with Hyland scoring 21 and Furness following with 15.

McFarland finished 13 of 23 from the floor with three three-pointers, grabbed seven of his 11 rebounds at the offensive end and also blocked three shots. Hyland and Furness also connected three times from deep with Furness handing out five assists and Hyland three.

Bridgeport received a huge game off the bench from senior guard Jesse Jones (Irvington, N.J.), with 25 points (9-14 fg, 5-7 4's), five rebounds and two steals. Senior guards Devon Elliott (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Ernest Rouse (Freeport, N.Y.) each added 14 with both sinking a pair of free throws in the final 20 seconds to help lock down the win.

Bridgeport shot better, 54-47 percent, and had a 36-34 rebound edge. The Falcons connected on 13 threes, one more than the Knights and had three fewer turnovers (12-15).

Bentley will continue a string of four straight on the road Tuesday with a Northeast-10 game at Assumption (7:30 pm).