Garden City, N.Y. — Head coach Dave Duke and the Adelphi men's basketball team returned home to the Center for Recreation and Sport for the first time in nearly two weeks when they took on Bentley Tuesday night. 

The game started off at a blistering pace, with 19 points being scored in the first five minutes. The Panthers held an early lead that grew to seven and then eight but the rival Falcons continued to battle. 

Adelphi's lead started to dwindle and it would turn into a one point deficit as Bentley continued to get to the hoop. Both squads would go back and forth as the Bentley duo of Cash McClure and Aaron Latham battled with Dayshaun Walton and Andres Fulgencio. McClure would make a jumper with 45 seconds to put the Falcons up two and a Jarnel Rancy free throw saw the Brown and Gold go down only one into the break.

Buckets by Tavin Pierre Philippe, Rancy and Fulgencio regained Adelphi a five point lead early in the second period. Bentley did not waver, however, as it quickly went up three and the see-saw battle once again commenced. 

Every Panther make or forced turnover was responded to. In the final five minutes, neither team was able to gain a lead larger than three. 

Adelphi led by one with 1:16 left in the ballgame but on the ensuing Bentley possession it was able to beat the shot clock and take a lead of its own. The Falcons then forced a Panther turnover and two free throws put them in the drivers seat for the final possession. 

Mason Jackson passed the ball out of bounds to Rancy who flicked it to Pierre Philippe. The graduate student was immediately met with a double team but he was able to sneak underneath the defenders and find a wide open Walton. Dayshaun drilled a three pointer and had the CRS rocking as he sent the game to overtime. 

In the extra stanza, the Panthers had all of the momentum. Walton scored the first four points and after Bentley hit a jumper of its own, Fulgencio buried a three. The Falcons continued fighting, getting the score within three with under a minute to play but it once again was Walton who hit the big shot, putting Bentley to sleep and giving Adelphi (19-5, 11-2 NE10) the victory. 

Walton scored a season-high 25 points on 10-20 (5-7 3pt) followed by Pierre Philippe (19 points) and Fulgencio (18 points). 

Rancy (11 points, 12 rebounds) recorded the first double-double of his career and added six blocks. 

The Panthers will return to the court on Saturday afternoon when they host Franklin Pierce at 3:30 p.m. for Alumni and Military Appreciation Day.