BOX SCORE WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven men's basketball team dropped a Northeast-10 Conference showdown, 66-54, with Bentley Saturday afternoon at Charger Gymnasium. The Chargers dropped to 12-5 overall and 8-5 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the loss, while the Falcons improved to 13-4 overall and 9-4 in conference play.

New Haven scored the first two baskets, but Bentley quickly answered with a three pointer and fastbreak basket to gain the lead just over two minutes into the game. The Falcons went to to a 12-0 run over the course of three minutes to take a 12-4 lead at the 15:15 mark. The teams then exchanged baskets before Bentley went back-to-back including a three-pointer from Andrew Shaw at the 10:58 mark. The Falcons took their first double-digit lead at 19-8 after the three. New Haven would cut the lead back to single figures and brought the gap to five points, 21-16, after a Justin Exum (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) three-pointer at the 7:43 mark. Bentley maintained the lead until Exum capped an 8-0 run for the Chargers with a three-pointer at the 1:20 mark. A Falcons free throw in the final minute gave Bentley a one-point lead at halftime, 25-24.

Opening the second half, UNH and Bentley exchanged baskets as the Falcons held on to a slight advantage. Jeffery Adkins (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) brought the difference to one point with a layup at the 15-minute mark, 35-34. Bentley would then go on a 5-0 run before New Haven answered with its own 7-0 run to take a 42-41 lead at the 11:11 mark. The lead the the Chargers' last as the Falcons responded with a 13-2 run in order to secure a 10-point lead, 54-44, with 5:27 left in the game. The Bentley offense took over and free throws in the final minutes helped lead the Falcons to a 12-point victory at Charger Gymnasium.

New Haven shot 37-percent from the floor on 22-of-60 shooting. The Chargers also went 6-for-25 from long range (24-percent). The Chargers fell short 33-30 on the boards and were called for 15 fouls, compared to 11 for the Falcons. The Chargers did take advantage of opportunities, scoring 21 points off turnovers and 10 second chance points. Bentley's bench scored 29 points, while the Chargers managed just 14 off the bench.

Justin Exum (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) led the Chargers with 14 points, while Eric Anderson (Newark, N.J./Newark Tech) added 12 point and eight rebounds.

New Haven returns to action on Wednesday, January 25 when it hosts Saint Anselm College at Charger Gymnasium. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. For complete coverage, stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com.