Nov. 22, 2002
Box Score
Bentley, Mass. -
Senior forward Wayne Nelson (Abescon, N.J.) scored 24 points, including 10 of his team's 21 in overtime, and grabbed 12 rebounds as two-time NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Adelphi University topped Bentley College, 84-73, in the opening round of the Holiday Inn Express Men's Basketball Tip-Off Classic at Bentley's Dana Center Friday night.
After three-pointer by Bentley senior forward Jeff Bishop (Cohoes, N.Y.) gave the Falcons a 66-65 lead early in the extra session, Nelson launched an 11-4 run with a four-point play.
Bentley junior guard Pat Lynch (Belmar, N.J.) hit a jumper with 50.5 seconds left to get the Falcons back within six points, but the Panthers, who have suffered only two regular season losses the last two years, closed it out by scoring the game's final eight points.
Bentley, which had trailed by eight with three-and-a-half minutes left in regulation, battled back with a run of 10 unanswered points, beginning with a four-point play by Bishop with 3:25 to play. At the time, it was only the second three-pointer the Falcons had hit in 21 attempts.
Two Bentley field goals tied the game at 61, and Bishop hit a go-ahead 18-footer with 1:57 to play. It would stay 63-61 until a put-back by Adelphi senior Tony Kellman (Queens, N.Y.) with 39 seconds to go evened the score. An off-balance shot by Nelson at the buzzer was off the mark and the game went to OT.
Nelson, eight of 22 from the floor and perfect on seven free throws, also had three steals. Kellman added 15 points for Adelphi and junior guard Thomas McCormack (Breezy Point, N.Y.) chipped in with 15 points and four steals.
Both teams shot just 38 percent, but Adelphi had the upper hand from three-point land. The Panthers knocked down 10 of 28 treys while the Falcons, who controlled the boards (55-42), misfired on 26 of 29 from outside the arc.
The tournament continues on Saturday with the two Northeast-10 teams trading opponents. Merrimack will meet Adelphi at 6 p.m. and Bentley will take on Lynn at 8 p.m.
