SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior All-Conference forward Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills HS) put up a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double and grad student Keegan Hyland (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS) nearly matched those numbers, 21 and 12, as Bentley University went wire-to-wire for an 80-65 win over American International College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Butova Gymnasium.

McFarland knocked down five of Bentley's 15 three-pointers and moved into third on the program's all-time scoring list, surpassing two-time All-America Brian Hammel '75, with his total climbing to 1,774. He also passed Derek Dixon '87 for fourth in Falcon history in field goals (668).

Bentley's ninth victory in ten conference games, coupled with Saint Anselm falling to Southern Connecticut, put the Falcons in sole possession of first in the NE-10's Northeast Division. The Falcons improved to 12-3 overall while AIC slipped to 7-9, including 3-7 conference.

Coach Jay Lawson's team wasted no time taking the lead as they scored the game's first eight points. Sophomore forward Brandon Wheeler (Stamford, Conn./Trinity Catholic HS) opened the scoring with a drive, senior guard Alex Furness (Wells, Maine/Wells HS) drained a three from the right wing and Barr connected from deep from the left side.

After the Yellow Jackets scored the next four, Bentley used a 13-6 run to take its first double-digit lead of the night, 21-10. Sophomore guard Matt Barr (Stratham, N.H./Cushing Academy), who finished with a career-high 13 points, played a key role during that stretch with seven of the 13, including a three-pointer and a pair of free throws to start the run.

Back-to-back three-pointers by McFarland and freshman guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./ Thompson Collegiate Academy) made it a 37-24 game with 4:17 left in the first half and the lead remained in double figures the rest of the way. McFarland already had his double-double by the half, which ended with Bentley on top 45-31.

An 8-2 spurt that featured McFarland and Barr three-balls made it 57-40 with 15:07 to play, and the Falcons' lead hit 20 for the first time, 68-48, on a three-pointer from junior guard Chris Murray (Littleton/Littleton HS) with 10:15 on the second-half clock.

McFarland, who made half of his ten three-point attempts, contributed four assists and two blocks, in addition to the 22 points and season-best 13 rebounds. Hyland's afternoon also included five assists and Barr had a very good shooting day, four of five overall with three triples. Furness finished with nine points, five rebounds and four assists, and Murray's eight points (3-3 overall, 2-2 threes) was a career-best.

AIC placed four in doubles with senior guard Cameron Dobbs (Albany, N.Y.) at the top of the list. He scored 14 points but needed 19 shots to do so.

Bentley shot 48 percent, both overall and from three, and outrebounded the Jackets by eight, 41-33. AIC was held to 39 percent shooting and misfired on 19 of 27 from beyond the three-point stripe.

Bentley has two more road games before returning to the Dana Center in 11 days, with games at Pace Wednesday and Le Moyne next Saturday.