SPRINGFIELD, Mass. The American International College men's basketball team fell in Northeast-10 action Saturday afternoon to Bentley University at Butova Gymnasium, 80-65.
With the loss, AIC falls to 7-9 overall and 3-7 in NE-10 games, while with the win Bentley improves to 12-3 and 9-1 in conference contests.
Bentley jumped out to an early 8-0 edge following a three from junior Matt Barr at the 17:12 mark. Barr then drained another and added a pair from the charity stripe for a 13-4 advantage just two and a half minutes later.
The Falcons extended their lead to 11 points midway through the first half before AIC would chip away thanks in part to a pair of three's from junior Juwan Moody (Pontiac, Mich.) and freshman Bruce Spruell (Hanover, Md.) as part of an 8-2 run over the next two minutes making the score 23-18.
Falcon senior Tyler McFarland then caught fire, scoring nine of the next 13 points including a pair from behind the arc and, despite Moody dialing in from distance twice, Bentley extended their lead to 37-24 at the 4:19 mark.
Bentley managed their largest lead of the half in the waning moments after another McFarland trey and a lay-up from senior Cameron Dobbs (Albany, N.Y.) made the score 45-31 in favor of the visitors heading into the half.
In early second half action, the Yellow Jacket chipped the deficit down to 11, using a layup from Dobbs and a jumper from junior Rasheed Howard (Woodbridge, N.J.). McFarland stopped the mini-run with another three, but Dobbs responded on the next possession with a trey of his own.
The Yellow Jackets continued to flirt with the single-digit margin throughout the early second half. AIC senior forward Trahmier Burrell (Albany, N.Y.) drew a three-point play at the 13:58 mark, cutting the Falcon lead back down to 12, 57-45.
Despite the higher intensity, Bentley just kept hitting from behind the arc to stop any American International momentum. The Falcons went 7-14 from long range in the second half, knocking down 15 in the game.
Dobbs led four Jackets in double figures, registering 14 points. Burrell (13), Moody (11) and Howard (10) were the other three. Senior Oscar Assie (Ansonia, Conn.) came down with eight boards in reserve work, including five offensive boards to keep the AIC possession alive.
McFarland finished with 22, while Hyland notched 21 to lead all scorers. Bentley shot 48.3 percent from the floor and 48.4 percent from three-point land.
AIC will conclude their mini three-game home stretch on Wednesday, Jan. 16 as they host nationally ranked No. 12 Saint Anselm. Tip-off with the Hawks is slated for 7:30 p.m.
