Franklin, Mass.- Led by 28 points from Naquwan Solomon and 24 from Aziz Gilliam, the Dean College Bulldogs held on to defeat Central Maine 89-85 on Thursday at Pieri Gym in Franklin,MA.

Solomon's impressive stat line included 9 rebounds, 8 steals and 4 assists to go with his 28 points, and Gilliam added 8 assists and 4 boards as well.  Kendall Hamilton scored 11, and John Lambert and Jacee Hamelin both scored 9.

After a slow start, Dean got hot.  A three pointer from Solomon capped a 12-0 run and stretched Dean's lead to 21-12 8 minutes into the first half.  But the Vikings responded quickly, taking the lead back with a 15-2 run of their own.  Kaleb Benjamin knocked down two threes as part of the Viking's spurt, on his way to 22 points on 7-9 from deep.  

Late in the period Solomon got his own rebound 3 times before converting a layup, cutting the lead to 30-27.  Gilliam tied the game at 35 with a lay in at the 1:40 mark and Dean went into the break with a 39-37 lead.

A steal and an easy 2 for Central Maine's Pietro Badalassi on the opening possesion of the second half tied the game at 39.  Dean stretched their lead to 14 over the course of the next 10 minutes by pushing the tempo.  Timely defense and fast break points from Lambert, Gilliam and Hamelin put the Bulldogs in the drivers seat with 10 minutes to play.  

The teams traded free throws for the latter part of the second half and Central Maine was able to cut into the lead with great 3 point shooting from Benjamin and Akeem Laurie, but a late layup from Solomon and two free throws from Hamelin sealed the deal.

Central Maine was led by Benjamin with 22.  Baladassi added 15, Rob Skinner had 17 and Cornelius Lawhorn scored 10 off the bench.

The win improves Dean to 9-7 on the year, while the loss drops Central Maine to 11-5.

The Bulldogs next game is home on Saturday against Fisher College at 3:00.

Central Maine travels to Navy Prep on Monday the 16th.