Garden City, N.Y. -- With the Adelphi University men's basketball team trailing Bentley University by three at the close of regulation, Manny Suarez sank a game-tying three-pointer with 15 seconds on the clock to send the game to overtime, as the Panthers bested the visiting Falcons by an 88-82 decision in extra time.

Suarez's game-tying three was part of his 30-point, 11 rebound effort on the night, as he paced four Adelphi (13-4, 6-3 NE10) players in double figures. Jack Laffey sank six triples en route to a 20-point night, while Conor McGuinness kept the offense running smoothly with 15 assists and 14 points of his own and rounding out the group was Michael Coffey with 12 points. Bentley (6-8, 3-6 NE10) had four players score in double figures, including a team-high 26 from Ryan Richmond.

In a tight first half where both the score tied and lead changed seven times, Adelphi responded to an early Bentley lead each time. After a Chris Hudson three put the Falcons up by one at 31-30 with 6:25 to play in the first half, the Panthers ripped off the next eight points, keyed by four each from Nick Cambio, to take a half-high seven point edge, 38-31 with 2:13 to play. The lead nearly stood up to close the frame, as the Panthers led by six at the break, thanks to a Laffey triple to close out the scoring with 17 seconds to go, 41-35.

Adelphi's lead grew to a game-high 10, 45-35, on another bucket for Suarez with just 1:09 played in the second half. However, Bentley's offense got going from there, and the Falcons outscored the Panthers 25-15 over the next 8:47 to tie the game at 60-60 on a Richmond layup. From there, the lead changed twice, and it was the visitors who had the edge late, as Richmond was fouled by McGuinness and made both attempts at the line to put his team ahead, 72-71 with 1:19 to play, before Brandon Wheeler made a pair at the line to stretch the edge to three, 74-71 with 24 ticks on the clock. However, Suarez proved undaunted, taking his shot from straight-on downtown to tie the game at 74-74 and force extra time.

While Bentley made the first bucket of OT, the Panthers eventually outscored them 14-8 in the frame, taking a lead of eight as Coffey made a pair from the line with 47 seconds to play. From there, the visitors got no closer than three, and Adelphi came away with the win.

The Panthers are back in action on the road on Saturday, Jan. 14 when they travel to SNHU for a 3:30 pm NE10 contest.

NOTES
- Adelphi is 2-1 in overtime games this season, defeating Felician and Bentley while falling to Long Island rival Molloy. 

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About Adelphi Athletics:
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009 and in the past seven seasons, has collected 20 regular season conference titles, 24 tournament championships, 29 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup three times (2013, 2014, and 2016), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.

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