WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./Thomson Collegiate) scored 25 points, giving him 117 in his last four games, and junior forward Brandon Wheeler (Stamford, Conn./Trinity Catholic HS) added 17, all in the second half, as Bentley University posted a 76-65 win over first-place Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Wednesday night.

Bentley, now 9-3 at home this season, evened its overall record at 11-11 and improved to 8-9 in conference play, good for a tie for fifth place. Southern New Hampshire, ranked third in the region, fell to 16-6 overall and 12-5 NE10.

The Falcons, who maintained the lead for almost the entire game after a 24-7 start, fell behind by one twice in the second half, including 57-56 with 6:54 left after junior guard Dimitri Floras (Merrimack, N.H.) made one of two at the line.

Bentley regained control by running off 12 straight, Wheeler and Richmond taking turns scoring, to restore the lead to double figures. Wheeler got it started with a three from the left corner with 6:35 to play, Richmond hit a straight-away three, Wheeler knocked down a jumper from 16, Richmond hit a jumper in the paint and Wheeler made it 68-57 with 3:51 remaining with a fast-break lay-up.

Bentley locked up the win by making eight of eight free throws in the final 2:21, four apiece by both Richmond and senior guard Matt Barr (Stratham, N.H./Cushing Academy).

After missing their first seven shots, the Falcons ran off ten unanswered to go up 10-4. Richmond had half of the points with a three from the right wing and a pair of free throws.

Following three points from the Penmen, Bentley put together a 14-0 run for a 17-point lead with 6:15 left in the half, 24-7. Richmond and sophomore forward Kyle Bouchard (Houlton, Maine/ Houlton HS) both contributed five points to that surge.

At that point, Southern New Hampshire had missed 22 of 25 shots overall and 20 of its previous 21.

SNHU pulled within four, 26-22, but Bentley answered with a 12-6 spurt, sandwiched around halftime, to go back up ten, 38-28, early in the second. That run included a three-point play by Barr and a three-pointer from the right corner from senior guard Ferguson Duke (Dartmouth, N.S./Hun School (N.J.)).

It was eight unanswered points by SNHU that gave the visitors their first lead, 56-55 with 7:19 on the clock, since early in the contest.

Richmond, who also had seven rebounds and two assists, made 7 of 15 shots overall, three of seven three-pointers and eight of nine from the foul stripe. Wheeler was 8-of-12 overall and also collected 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double.

Bentley also received nine points apiece from Duke and Bouchard.

Junior forward Chris Walters (Stamford, Conn.) led Southern New Hampshire with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Bentley outshot the Penmen 46-39 percent, made 10 more free throws (18-24 Falcons, 8-11 Penmen) and controlled the boards 41-32 while gaining a split of the season series.

The Falcons are back home Saturday, hosting Franklin Pierce at 3:30 pm.