WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior guard Ryan Richmond (Toronto, Ont./Thomson Collegiate) scored 18 of his 30 points in the second half and sophomore forward Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/ Northampton Williston School) had 13 of his 22 after the break as Bentley University posted an 82-74 win over St. Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Wednesday night at the Dana Center.

With the win, Bentley took sole possession of fourth place in the NE10's Northeast Division, the Falcons improving to 13-11 overall and 10-9 conference with two regular season games to play. They now trail third-place Stonehill College by one game and have a similar lead over both Southern New Hampshire and Franklin Pierce, who are tied for fifth.  Five teams will qualify for the conference championship tournament.

Down by seven early in the second half after trailing by as many ten before the break, Bentley ran off eight straight to go up one with 16:39 left, 49-48. Junior forward Zach Gilpin (Hampden, Maine/ Hampden Academy) got it started with a lay-up and both senior forward Brandon Wheeler (Stamford, Conn./Trinity Catholic HS) and Richmond connected on three-balls from the right wing.

Following a series of lead changes over the next five minutes, Richmond put Bentley in front to stay, 60-59, with a lay-up with about 11 minutes remaining. That basket was the start of a 6-0 burst that also included a jumper and lay-up from Hudson.

Bentley, after holding a 69-67 lead for more than two minutes, made it a two-possession game, 72-67, as Gilpin made one of two from the stripe and Richmond hit a jumper in the paint.

St. Michael's twice closed to within one, 73-72 and 75-74, before a 16-footer from freshman Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon/Thayer Academy) pushed the differential to three with 2:14 left. After the Knights went 0-for-2 from the foul line, Bentley locked up the win by making five of six from the stripe in the final 78 seconds, including two apiece from Hudson and Richmond.

Three-pointers kept Bentley within reach in a first half that St. Michael's shot 57 percent and the Falcons struggled inside the arc, hitting only 6 of 22. Coach Jay Lawson's team connected on 7 of 16 threes during the half, the long ball accounting for 21 of the Falcons' 37 points.

Richmond, who eclipsed 1,300 points for his career and came within one point of his season-high of 31, made 11 of 24 shots overall and six of seven free throws. Hudson missed out on a double-double by only one rebound and shot 8 of 13 overall, including three triples in as many attempts. Gilpin was the other Falcon to score in doubles, finishing with 15, along with five rebounds.

St. Michael's featured junior guard Levi Holmes III (East Brunswick, N.J.), although his 21 points were about 14 less than he had averaged over his team's last five contests. He was 7 of 17 overall with two triples, and also amassed four assists.

Bentley had the shooting edge in the second half, 48-37 percent, but the Purple Knights (6-18, 3-16 NE10) had the upper hand overall, 46-41 percent. The Falcons made two more from deep, 11-9, and eight more at the line, 15-7, in addition to controlling the boards, 42-34. Turnovers were about the same but Bentley did more with its takeaways, finishing with a 22-7 advantage in points off.

Bentley will be back at home Saturday for a 2 pm Senior Day game against Merrimack College, the final Dana Center appearance for the Falcons during the regular season.