Garden City, N.Y. - In a game that was decided by three points in its last meeting, the Adelphi University men's basketball team was on the favorable side of an 86-80 victory, taking down no. 16 and league-leading Bentley University on Tuesday. 

The Panthers (11-14, 5-12 NE10) used 20-plus point games from Elijah Lewis and Dayshaun Walton, coupled with a team-leading 32 points from Ronnie Silva to secure the win and snapping a three-game losing streak. This loss marks the second consecutive for the Falcons (17-4, 12-4 NE10), who now sit at the top of the standings, in a three-way tie with Southern New Hampshire and Saint Anselm. 

"It was such a hard-fought game and I thought that the guys did a tremendous job continuing to guard in the second half and grind every single play," commented Head Coach Dave Duke in his postgame interview. 

The opening frame featured a 20-point showing from first year Lewis, courtesy of 7-for-8 shooting from the field. Bentley could have run up the score but the Falcons were only 2-for-6 from three point range in the first half, and as a result found themselves trailing by three heading into the locker room.

Adelphi managed to extend its advantage with eight points from the hands of Silva despite efforts from the Falcon offense to cut into their deficit. 

For the game, Adelphi forced 17 Falcon miscues for a team that normally only averages just under 12 turnovers per contest. Silva's three point jumper at  9:35 turned the game to a double-digit spread, a difference the hosts held onto for nearly the rest of regulation. The Panthers were 10-for-12 at the charity stripe in the closing minutes to keep Bentley at bay, handing the visitors just their fourth loss of the season. 

The Panthers will hit the road for their next two contests, starting with a 3:30 p.m. tip at Southern Connecticut on Saturday, Feb. 11.