WALTHAM, Mass. – Graduate guard Colton Lawrence (Myerstown, Pa./ELCO HS) scored 22 of his 32 points during a dominating second half as Bentley University, ranked number 21 in Division II, pulled away after the break for an 87-68 win over Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon at the Dana Center.

With its 11^th win in its last 12 games, Bentley improved to 17-3 overall and 12-3 NE10. The Falcons, with three regular season games left, lead second place Franklin Pierce by two games in the loss column and 2½ overall in the conference's Northeast Division standings.

Bentley started fast, hitting 8 of its first 13 shots to build a nine-point lead, 21-12, a little more than seven minutes into the contest. The Falcons were unable to maintain that hot shooting throughout the half and went into the break down one, 35-34, after misfiring on 16 of 21 shots over the final 12 minutes. That was despite closing the first with five unanswered points, a layup from graduate forward Pete Blust (Hinsdale, Ill./ Hinsdale Central HS) and one of Lawrence's six three-pointers.

Bentley carried the momentum into the second, scoring the first nine once play resumed to make it a 14-0 run. Lawrence scored on a lay-up, sophomore guard Zach Laput (Beacon Falls, Conn./Notre Dame HS) had a put back, graduate guard Jordan Mello-Klein (Sharon/Thayer Academy) sank a step-back jumper from the elbow and Laput capped the surge with a three-pointer.

After the Penmen pulled to within three, Bentley extended its advantage to 17, 62-45, with a 17-3 run. Lawrence led the way with two three-pointers and a drive to the hole for eight points. At that juncture, the Falcons had heated back up, hitting 12 of their first 16 second-half shot attempts.

The Penmen (12-9, 8-8 after their third loss of the season to Bentley) drew within 11 a couple times, the last at 74-63 with 4:49 remaining. Lawrence scored the game's next five, on two free throws and a straightaway three, to make it 79-63 with 3:41 to play.

For the game, Lawrence made 10 of 22 shots overall, half of his 14 three-pointers and five of six free throws. His day also included five rebounds, two assists and one steal.

Senior guard Mason Webb (Oklahoma City, Okla./Bishop McGuinness HS) scored 15 on six-of-nine shooting , and Zaput amassed 12 points on five of eight shots, with a trio of three balls.

Mello-Klein gave Bentley nine points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Blust followed with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting.

For SNHU, freshman forward Aaron Gray (Providence, R.I.) had 19 points and seven rebounds, and sophomore Noah Kamba (Lynn) came off the bench to score 18.

Bentley outscored the visitors 53-33 after intermission and dominated the boards with a plus-19 rebounding margin, 47-28. Webb, a plus-29, led all rebounders with 11.

Bentley is on the road twice next week with games at Assumption Wednesday and Franklin Pierce Sunday.