WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon/Thayer Academy) scored 24 points and delivered seven assists, and senior forward Chris Hudson (Hodgdon, Maine/Williston Northampton School) added 21, as the Bentley University Falcons overcame a 16-point deficit to down Saint Anselm College, 76-65, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.

Bentley, ranked 23rd in Division II, took sole possession of first in the conference's Northeast Division while improving to 12-2 overall and 4-1 NE10. Saint Anselm, which was nationally ranked earlier in the season, dropped to 7-5 overall and 3-2 conference.

The Falcons started on a positive note, hitting eight of their first 12 shots to open a 17-11 lead. Mello-Klein had the hot hand with nine points, including a three-pointer.  

The next eight-and-a-half minutes belonged to the Hawks as they put together a 29-7 run to go up 16, 40-24, with 3:32 left in the opening half. That included nine points from junior forward Chris Paul (Highland Mills, N.Y.) and eight from freshman guard Tyler Arbuckle (Bristol, Conn.).

Bentley came alive during the final minutes of the half with a 12-2 run bringing the Falcons to within six at the break, 42-36. That stretch was bookmarked by three-pointers, the first by freshman guard Isaac Martin (Peachtree Corner, Ga./Norcross HS) and the other from Mello-Klein from the right corner to beat the halftime buzzer.

The momentum carried into the second half with the Falcons scoring 22 of the first 27 points after play resumed to take a 58-47 lead. Points came from six different players with Mello-Klein, Hudson and sophomore guard Mason Webb (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness HS) providing five apiece.

Combined, Bentley outscored the Hawks 34-7 over a stretch of 11-and-a-half minutes. The Falcon defense forced five turnovers during that time while allowing only two baskets in 16 attempts.

After Saint Anselm closed to within eight, 71-63, with 2:45 to play, Mello-Klein put the game away by scoring the next five. He buried a straightaway three before scoring on a driving lay-up.

Mello-Klein shot 10 of 17 overall, including four of seven from deep, and also had five rebounds and two steals. Hudson made 10 of his 16 attempts, collected seven rebounds and was a team-best plus-22.

Bentley also received 11 points from Webb and ten from junior forward Pete Blust (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central HS).

Arbuckle led Saint Anselm with 21 points and Paul followed with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Bentley outshot the Hawks 54-42 percent and had a 10-6 edge in second-chance points, despite being outrebounded 36-30. The Falcons turned the ball over 11 times and the Hawks lost it 15 times.

On Wednesday, Bentley will be at St. Michael's, looking to extend its five-game winning streak.