LOWELL, MA (Feb. 16, 2008) – Senior F Nate Fritsch (Durham, NC) came off the bench to score 15 points and grab 10 rebounds to lead No. 1 Bentley College over UMass Lowell, 70-55, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the loss, UML slipped to 10-14 overall and 7-12 in the NE-10 entering Tuesday’s clash at Southern Connecticut (7:30).

The win marked the 51st consecutive regular season victory for the Falcons – one shy of tying the Division II record – who improved to 24-0 overall and 19-0 in the Conference.  Bentley hosts Assumption Tuesday (7:30).

Senior F Mike Gore (Wilmington, MA) led UML with 18 points and four rebounds while senior G Dashon Harper (Columbus, OH) added 10 points.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first half – Bentley shooting.296 (8-27) and UML.357 (10-28) – but the Falcons regained their touch in the second half, shooting .625 (15-24) while UML shot .407 (11-27).

Bentley also outscored UML from 3-point range, 30-18, and from the free throw line, 14-7.

The Falcons led 26-23 at the half and opened the second half with a 13-3 run to post a 39-26 cushion just over three minutes in. Fritsch led the spurt with a pair of 3-point shots.

UML was unable to cut the deficit to single digits thereafter.