WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore forward Tyler McFarland (Rockport, Maine/Camden Hills HS) poured in a career-high 34 points in 32 minutes, with his 16 field goals in just 21 attempts the most ever by a Bentley player in the Dana Center, to power the Bentley University men's basketball team to a season-opening 98-69 win over Concordia College (N.Y.) Friday night in the Bentley Tip-Off Classic.

McFarland was complemented by senior guard Jasper Grassa (Lynn/Lynn Classical HS), who buried five threes in seven attempts en route to 17 points, and junior guard Keegan Hyland (South Portland, Maine/South Portland HS), with 12 points off the bench in his first-ever collegiate game.

McFarland scored the Falcons' first ten points of the night and following a 16-point first half, netted eight, all on lay-ups, in the first four minutes of the second. That came during a 16-3 explosion that stretched a six-point halftime lead to a commanding 61-42.

Dating back to last year, it was the third straight contest that he has set a new career scoring best. He had 28 points against Stonehill in the penultimate game of the 2012-13 season and closed out his freshman campaign with 29 points against UMass-Lowell. The 34 points was the most by a Bentley player since Tim Forbes had 35 in March 2005.

Prior to McFarland making 16 field goals, which included a pair of first-half three-balls, the most field goals a Bentley player ever made in the 41-year history of the Dana Center was 15, achieved by Brian Hammel in December 1974 and matched by Al Grenfell a couple months later. His opening night performance also included five rebounds, two steals and two assists.

It was a back-and-forth contest throughout most of the first half before Bentley scored the final four points before the break to go up six. Hyland made a lay-up with 59 seconds on the first-half clock and Grassa sank a pair from the charity stripe with 4.6 seconds left. Prior to that, there had been six ties and 11 lead changes.

Bentley's 16-3 spurt to start the second half grew into a 34-14 explosion that produced a 26-point advantage, 79-53, with 8:38 to play.

The Falcons displayed impressive ball movement all night long, finishing with 27 assists and only five turnovers. It was even more eye-popping during the 53-point second half with 14 helpers and just one giveaway.

Hyland's 12-point effort came in 18 minutes off the bench, and he also chipped in with four rebounds, a steal and an assist.

Junior forward Andrew Shaw (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) provided eight points, six rebounds and four assists, and the Falcons also received six points apiece from junior guard JP Koury (Red Bank, N.J./CBA) and freshman forward Ferguson Duke (Dartmouth, N.S./Hun School (N.J.)). Sophomore point guard Alex Furness (Wells, Maine/Wells HS) delivered a career-high seven assists, freshman point guard Matt Barr (Stratham, N.H./Cushing Academy) had six assists in his collegiate debut, and neither one committed a turnover.

Senior guard Norman Pope (Washington, D.C.) led Concordia with 19 points, including 12 of 13 at the foul line, and five assists.

In the first game of the classic, Merrimack pulled away in the second-half for an 84-71 win over Wilmington University with the Warriors receiving 21 points apiece from sophomores Gelvis Solano (Washington, D.C.) and Anthony Barry (Uxbridge). Barry also grabbed 16 rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench.

The classic continues Saturday evening with Bentley facing Wilmington at 8 pm after Merrimack takes on Concordia at 6 pm.