WALTHAM, Mass. – Sizzling shooting by senior guard Aaron Latham (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury HS) that included a school record-matching eight three-pointers propelled Bentley University to a 79-60 win over the University of New Haven in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball Saturday afternoon on the Dana Center's Barbara Stevens Court.

The big day by Latham, who finished with a career-high 27 points and five assists, boosted the Falcons to 3-1 overall and 1-0 Northeast-10. Bentley, ranked 16^th in the preseason NABC Division II coaches poll, drained 18 triples as a team in its home opener, one shy of the program's single-game record.

Latham buried eight of 11 from distance to become the fifth player in program history to make that many in a game. The others are Billy Holden (1988), Jamie Baker (1997), Lew Finnegan (2008) and Mason Webb (2022). Six of his three-balls came before New Haven connected on its first with 11:08 left in the second half.

Bentley, which saw its 2022-23 season ended with a loss to New Haven in the NCAA Division II East Regional championship game, took charge with a 19-4 first-half run that made it 26-12 with 6:44 left. Coach Jay Lawson's squad sank six triples during that span with two from both Latham and graduate forward Isaac Martin (Atlanta, Ga./Norcross HS) as well as one apiece from graduate guard Kellan Bochenek (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont HS) and senior forward Ivan Misic (Toronto, Ont.).

The advantage hit 16 for the first time, 34-18, when Latham completed a four-point play.

Bentley, up 15 at the break, doubled up New Haven, 44-22, by scoring the first seven points of the second half. Included were five from 2022-23 NABC All-America Zach Laput (Beacon Falls, Conn./Notre Dame HS).

The biggest lead of the afternoon, 25, was achieved for the first time when Martin buried his third three-pointer of the game with 12:20 to play in the second half.

The Chargers finally made their first trey with 11:08 to play, on their ninth attempt of the day. By that point, the Falcons had 14 triples, in 24 attempts.

After New Haven closed to within 15, Bentley put it out of reach with ten unanswered making it a 76-51 game with 3:23 remaining. The run was capped by Latham's final three of the game.

Laput and sophomore guard Cash McClure (Readville, Maine/Maranacook HS) joined Latham in doubles, with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Both also had five assists, Laput was the game's top rebounder (7) and McClure (5 of 7 shooting) grabbed five boards.

Bentley also received nine points off the bench and eight from both Bochenek and Misic.

The top scorer for New Haven was junior guard Keith Warren (Rochester, N.Y.), with three triples and 15 points.

Bentley shot 51 percent overall and 49 percent from deep while New Haven's 44 percent shooting including six of 18 on threes. The Falcons were a plus-nine on the boards, 35-26, and had 22 assists on 27 baskets, a rate of 81 percent.

The next game for the Falcons is Tuesday at American International College (6:30 pm).