WALTHAM, Mass. – Franklin Pierce University senior guard Matt Banton (Brooklyn, N.Y.) buried a 25-foot three-pointer, his sixth of the day, to give his team the lead with 20.1 seconds left and the visiting Ravens went on to post an 88-84 win over Bentley University in men's college basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.

Franklin Pierce made 15 of its first 20 shots in each half and finished with a .608 accuracy mark, including an amazing 12 of 18 from behind the arc, to gain a split of the season series.

Bentley placed four in doubles, a list that included senior guard Ferguson Duke (Dartmouth, N.S./Hun School (N.J.)) with a career-high 20 points and junior forward Brandon Wheeler (Stamford, Conn./Trinity HS) with his ninth double-double.

The Falcons, who trailed by seven, 83-76, with under three minutes in the game, came storming back with eight straight points and four defensive stops. Sophomore guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./ Thomson Collegiate) got it going with a pair of free throws. Wheeler followed with a three-point play on a drive to the basket and after he came up with a steal at the other end, knocked down one of two free throws to bring the Falcons within one with 1:34 to play.

After the Ravens missed a jumper and a put-back with Duke grabbing the second rebound, Richmond buried one from mid-range, putting Bentley back in front, 84-83 with 47.2 seconds.

Banton, one of three Franklin Pierce players with at least 24 points, responded with his right-side three-ball for an 86-84 lead. After Richmond missed a potential tying shot with 5.0 seconds, the Ravens made two of four free throws in the final 1.8 seconds to account for the final score.

Following the first two attempts, Bentley tried a baseball pass but the Falcons were unable to handle it, giving the ball back to the visitors.  

Bentley also staged a comeback at the end of the first half, scoring the final seven, including both a fast-break lay-up and a three from the left wing by Duke. That turned a five-point deficit into a 42-40 lead and the difference grew to nine, 53-44, with an 11-4 surge to start the second.

The game turned around near the midpoint of the half with Franklin Pierce scoring 13 in a row to go up 66-62 with 9:38 left. The Ravens stayed in front until Richmond's last-minute basket for the lead.

Banton, senior guard Donte Gittens (Hartford, Conn.) and six-eight junior Mike McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) combined for 74 of the Ravens' 88 points with the trio 27 of 39 combined, including a ridiculous 9 of 12 from three. Banton topped the list with 26, including six of nine from downtown, and the other two both scored 24.

Duke, who also had eight rebounds, achieved his 20 on 7-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three. Richmond, held in check much of the game, followed with 17, and senior guard Matt Barr (Stratham, N.H./Cushing Academy) finished with 16. Wheeler's stat line included 15 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and three assists.

Bentley, which shot 45 percent but made only five trifectas, offset Franklin Pierce's sizzling shooting with a strong performance on the offensive glass. The Falcons (11-12, 8-10 NE10) grabbed 14 and turned those into a 13-0 advantage in second-chance points.

With the loss, the Falcons fell to sixth in the division, a game back of fifth-place Stonehill, which owns the tie-breaker over Bentley. Franklin Pierce (13-11, 10-8) remained four, a game up on Stonehill.

Three games remain in the regular season, beginning Wednesday at St. Michael's College.