Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Three members of the Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team posted double-digits on Wednesday night as the Owls fell short of an upset to No. 19 Bentley, by the score of 64-56. Sophomore Andrew Zito (Windsor, Conn.) dropped a career-high 18 points to lead all Owls in scoring.

Southern is now 2-23 overall and 1-19 in the NE-10. Bentley remains atop the Northeast-10 with an overall mark of 23-4 and conference record of 17-3.

The first twenty minutes of regulation featured nine lead changes and three ties. With 4:41 remaining in the half, senior guard Justin Gardenhire (Rosedale, N.Y.) gave his team a 20-19 lead after a steal and fast break lay-up. The steal gave the Owls the momentum as they controlled the lead for the remainder of the half, heading into halftime with a 30-27 lead.

The Owls continued to give Bentley a scare in the second half as Gardenhire hit a three from the top of the key to put his team up 44-42 at the 10:12 mark. However, Brian Tracey responded with a three of his own and that would be the last time Southern had a lead. The Owls chance of upsetting the top team in the Northeast-10 was no longer possible and the Flacons escaped with a 64-56 victory.

Despite the loss, the Owls beat the Falcons at their own game as they shot 83.3% (5-for-6) from behind-the-arc compared to their opponents 42.9% (6-for-14). Zito dropped 18 on 7-for-12 from the floor and 4-5 from downtown. Gardenhire and freshman Kieran Ramsey (North Hollywood, Calif.) also posted double-digit figures with 13 and 10 respectively. Senior guard Terron Jones (Bridgeport, Conn.) was one point shy of another double-digit performance with nine.

The Owls travel to Massachusetts on Saturday, Feb. 21 for their final away game of the season against Merrimack. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.