WALTHAM, MA. – Despite Bentley University hitting 10 first half triples and having a lead as large as 17, the script was flipped in the second half as the Pace University shocked the Falcons with a ferocious comeback win, 85-77.
Pace hands Bentley their second home loss of the season while improving to 17-10 overall and 13-8 in conference tilts. Pace ended Bentley's six game win streak while increasing their own to five.
The halftime deficit was 42-29. Pace did enter the halftime locker room with some momentum with
Justin O'Neill hitting a fadeaway triple in the final five seconds of the half.
That momentum was much needed, as it was the catalyst for the Setters largest comeback of the season.
After chipping the lead down to ten, it was brought back down to single digits thanks to a
Tray Alexander basket, making the score 51-48.
The next two trips down the court featured two of the top scorers in the conference, Zach Laput and
Bryan Powell, trading long distance connections. After the lead got back up to 10 one more time, that would be the final time as the tables were about to be turned on the home team.
A 13-3 run by Pace brought the game to deadlocked score of 61-61 with just over 6:30 left in the game. The two teams traded buckets but when Powell found the bottom of the net with 2:49 left, the game would not return to a tie as Pace hung onto the lead to finish the comeback.
Pace did not commit a single second half turnover while only committing three in the first half.
Bentley was red hot in the first half, connecting on the aforementioned 10 triples, but only hit four in the second half.
Powell turned in another strong offensive performance, netting a game-high 27-points while dishing out seven helpers. Alexander finished with 19 points and six helpers.
Jabari Nurse and
Jaden Kealey also finished in double figures, pouring in 16 and 12 points respectively.
The Setters will close out the regular season at home when they host Saint Anselm College for 7:30 matchup on Tuesday at Goldstein Fitness Center.
