WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./Thomson Collegiate), coming off a 39-point performance on Wednesday, scored 27 points, including ten in the final 4:10, as Bentley University pulled out a 70-63 win over Assumption College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.

Richmond came up big down the stretch as he twice hit go-ahead jumpers, scored 10 of the Falcons' final 12 points and also helped out with three defensive rebounds and a steal in the final three minutes.

His first go-ahead basket, a foul line jumper, put Bentley in front 60-59 with 4:10 to play. After the Greyhounds regained the lead, Richmond knocked down a 17-footer with 2:34 left for the 11th and final lead change of the contest.

After coming up with a steal at the other end, Richmond buried a step-back 18-footer for a 64-61 lead with 1:42 to play. Assumption senior forward Karl Ziegler (Annandale, Va.) answered with a baseline jumper, again making it a one-point game again until Bentley senior guard Matt Barr (Stratham, N.H./Cushing Academy) countered with a 17-footer with 35.9 seconds. Four free throws by Richmond in the final 20 seconds secured the positive outcome for the Falcons.

Bentley started strong, using a pair of 10-0 runs to open a 22-10 lead with about nine minutes to play in the opening half. Threes played a role in both with Barr and senior guard Ferguson Duke (Dartmouth, N.S./Hun School)) connecting during the first and Barr and junior forward Brandon Wheeler (Stamford, Conn./Trinity Catholic HS) during the second.

On top 26-15 with 6:55 left in the first, Bentley managed only two baskets the remainder of the half, enabling Assumption to battle back and tie the game at 30 at the break.

During a second half that saw the lead change hands ten times, the two teams weren't separated by more than four until the final 20 seconds .

Richmond made it a double-double with ten rebounds to go along with the 27 points. He also had three assists and two steals while making half of his 18 shots and nine of his ten free throws.

Bentley also received the seventh double-double of the season from Wheeler, who finished with 12 points and ten rebounds. Barr scored 13 points and Duke came within one rebound of another double-double, finishing with 12 points and nine boards.

Freshman guard Branislav Vujaddinovic (Belgrade, Serbia) led Assumption with 14 points, four assists and two blocks.

Bentley shot 49 percent overall, including six of 15 from downtown, while holding the Greyhounds to 43 percent accuracy. Rebounds favored the Falcons, 35-30, and Bentley's 11 turnovers were two less than Assumption committed. The visitors had five more points off turnovers, 13-8, and a 16-10 advantage in second-chance points.

With the win, Bentley improved to 10-11 overall and 7-9 in conference play, moving into a tie for fifth. Assumption fell to 6-17 overall, including 4-12 NE10.

Bentley will be back at home Wednesday, hosting Southern New Hampshire in a 7:30 start.