CALDWELL, N.J. – The Caldwell University men's basketball team fell to Bentley University, 80-70 in a non-conference game Friday evening in the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars are now 7-6 overall, while the Falcons improve to 6-5.

The first half remained close, with four ties and eight lead changes. After a three-pointer by senior forward Michael Balkovic (Neptune, NJ/St. John Vianney) brought the Cougars to within two, 31-29 with less than two minutes left in the half, back-to-back threes from Andrew Shaw gave Bentley a 37-29 halftime advantage. The Falcons shot 50.0 percent from the field in the first half, including 7-of-15 from three-point range. Keegan Hyland and J.P. Koury had nine points each for Bentley, while Balkovic scored 11 points for Caldwell, which shot 36.4 percent from the floor.

A conventional three-point play by Balkovic cut the deficit to five, 42-37 with 17:36 to play. Tyler McFarland answered for Bentley with two three-pointers to push the lead back up to 48-37 with 16:19 on the clock. The Cougars never came closer than eight points the rest of the way, as Bentley led by as many as 14 points while shooting 65.2 percent from the field in the second half.

Senior guard Kevin Walker (Bayonne, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) led all players with 26 points, making 4-of-9 from three-point range. Balkovic finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, with junior forward Billy McDonald (North Haven, CT/North Haven) adding eight points. Hyland had 22 points and six assists for Bentley, which also received 17 points from Tyler McFarland. The Falcons made 13-of-26 from beyond the arc for the game compared to 8-of-25 for the Cougars.

Caldwell returns to action after the holidays with a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference game against Chestnut Hill College on Saturday, Jan. 3. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. in the Newman Center.