PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Pace University Men's Basketball leaned on defensive grit and timely shot-making in the second half on Wednesday night, pulling away late to secure a 53-49 Northeast 10 victory over Bentley University inside the Goldstein Fitness Center. The Setters erased a halftime deficit by outscoring the Falcons 36–31 after the break, improving to 9-7 overall and evening their conference mark at 4-4.
The opening half unfolded as a defensive battle, with both teams working for quality looks.
Jabari Nurse got Pace on the board early with a three-pointer, and
Jaden Kealey followed with a strong finish inside as the Setters grabbed an early edge. Bentley answered to keep the game tight, and despite active work on the glass from
Ben Manuel and
Jayden James, Pace struggled to find rhythm from the floor. Bentley carried a slim 18–17 advantage into halftime as neither side was able to create separation.
Momentum swung coming out of the locker room.
Paxton Davidson knocked down a pair of three-pointers early in the second half to spark the offense, and Nurse added another triple as Pace surged in front. Kealey attacked the paint and got to the free-throw line during a key stretch, helping the Setters build a two-possession lead midway through the half. Bentley continued to answer, tying the game and briefly reclaiming the lead, but Pace remained composed.
Down the stretch, Pace made the necessary plays on both ends. Davidson buried a clutch three-pointer to give the Setters a late edge, and Kealey converted at the line in the final seconds to seal the four-point win. Defensive stops and rebounding proved critical as Pace closed the game at the stripe with
Matt Healing earning his 150th career victory with the Blue and Gold.
Kealey and Davidson paced the Setters with 12 points apiece, while Nurse added 10 points, four steals, and three assists. Manuel provided a spark off the bench with 10 points and seven rebounds, and James finished with seven rebounds to help Pace control the paint.
The Setters hit the road on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for a rematch of the NE10 Conference Championship against Southern New Hampshire University.
