On March 13, 2007, with three players scoring in double figures and another stellar defensive effort, the undefeated Bentley men's basketball team continued its magical season by winning its first-ever NCAA Division II Northeast Regional championship, 63-54 over Bryant before more than 2,000 fans at the Dana Center.

The win was the 32nd straight for the Falcons and sets up a first-round Elite Eight encounter with another unbeaten club, defending national champion Winona State (Minn.), March 21 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The Warriors, 33-0 this season, extended their Division II record winning streak to 54 games with an 89-76 victory over Minnesota State-Mankato in the North Central final.

"For any group, this is an exciting thing," said Bentley coach Jay Lawson.  "To be the first team in nearly 45 years of Bentley basketball to capture the regional is amazing.  But I told the team before the game that they were a special group, and would be whether we won the game or not."

Sophomore Lew Finnegan and freshman guard Jason Westrol led the balanced Bentley attack with 13 points, and senior post Jeff Holmes added 11.

Bentley claimed the lead for good on a three-pointer by senior guard Danny Lawson less than five minutes into the game. That trey came in the midst of a 10-0 run (the 27th double-digit run of the season for the Falcons) and gave his team a 12-6 lead eight minutes into the game.

After a runner by Bryant's Andrew Lyell ended the Bulldogs scoreless skein at five minutes and 12 seconds, the Falcons stayed hot, scoring nine of the next 11 points to extend the lead to nine, 21-12. Senior forward Andy Smith had five of the nine, and Westrol had the other four.

The Bulldogs, who were seeking their first win of the season in four meetings with the Falcons as well as their second Elite Eight trip in three years, closed to within five with about four minutes left in the opening half. Bentley responded in style, closing the stanza with a 9-2 run to take a 13-point lead into the break, 39-26.

The bench accounted for more than 50 percent of the team's first-half points (21 of 39) with Finnegan scoring nine and Smith seven (along with six points).

In the second half, Bentley maintained a double digit lead throughout, until a three-pointer by Bryant guard Jon Ezeokoli with 16 seconds left closed out the scoring. The differential peaked at 17 points, 59-42 on consecutive lay-ups by Westrol 15 seconds apart with about six minutes left.

Defense has been the key to Bentley's success all season, and this game was no exception. The Falcons limited the Bulldogs to 35 percent shooting with Ezeokoli and senior guard Chris Burns, both of whom had averaged 20 points in their first two NCAA games, a combined 6 of 24 from the field. Ezeokoli topped Bryant with 13 points while Burns was limited to six.

"We put our focus on defense and rebounding," said Holmes. "On offense, it doesn't matter who gets the shots."

"We try to play physical, but we don't put people on the line," said Lawson. Bryant attempted only eight free throws all evening. "If you out-free throw attempt your opponent, you'll win 95 percent of the time."

While forcing Bryant into one of its poorest shooting nights of the season, Bentley connected at a 44 percent clip, including 54 percent in the opening half.

Finnegan made six of 10 shots from the field and also contributed two steals and five rebounds. Westrol hit half of his ten field goal attempts and Holmes was four of six with five rebounds. Smith led Bentley on the glass with a season-best 10.

Following the game, Bryant coach Max Good praised the Falcons. "It's like a dike has six holes, and you have only five fingers.  They have so many weapons. When they go to the bench to replace tired starters, they are even better."