February 7, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Bellevue (Neb.) shot 52.3 percent overall from the field and held Dakota State (S.D.) to 33.3 percent for a 65-53 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action Wednesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  Prior to the game, each team had 5-3 record in the league.  The victory put the Bruins in sole possession for first place, while the Trojans fell one game behind.

Dakota State suffered their third straight NSAA setback, dropping their overall record to 15-10 and 5-4 NSAA conference record.  Bellevue improved to 11-14 overall record and 6-3 record in the North Star.

The Bruins completed the North Star season series sweep over the Trojans (BU defeated DSU 69-68 in the conference opener on Jan. 6 in Bellevue).

Dakota State plays their final North Star road contest Friday evening, visiting Mayville State (N.D.).  The game is set for 7:30 p.m. at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D.  Bellevue also plays at MSU Saturday evening at 5 p.m.

Bellevue (Neb.) 65, Mayville State (N.D.) 53 – FINAL

The Bruins never trailed in the forty minutes as they kicked off the game with a 5-0 scoring run after a 3-pointer from Jerome Bynum and a basket by TJ Fritz.

Japjit Gill ended DSU's scoring run with a pair of free-throws with 17:28 on the clock (Trojans trailed 5-2).

Kenny Haynes drained a 3-pointer as Dakota State trimmed Bellevue's lead to 7-5 with less than fifteen minutes in the first half.

The Bruins sparked an 11-0 scoring run, fueled by three consecutive 3-pointers from Caleb Chiang followed by back-to-back 3-pointers by Fritz.  Christian Carter capped the scoring run with a basket to put Bruins up 18-5 with 11:16 left in the first half.

Brayden Pankonen ended DSU's scoring drought with a 3-pointer with 10:50 on the clock in the first (DSU trailed 18-8).

After Emmanuel Akpan's 3-pointer as DSU cut BU's lead to 20-11, Bellevue went on a 10-0 outburst to earn the largest lead of the game at 30-11 after a 3-pointer by Jaden Phillips with six minutes to go in the first half.

Trailing 32-16, Gill hit four consecutive baskets as part of DSU's 9-0 scoring run.  He drained a 3-pointer as the Trojans trailed 32-25 and forced the Bruins to call a timeout with 1:34 to go before halftime.

Taylor Edwards closed the first half with a layup as the Trojans cut the Bruins' lead to 36-29 by halftime.

Dakota State was 42.3 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (11-of-26 field goals).  Bellevue was 54.2 percent from the field (13-of-24 field goals) in the first half.

The Trojans could get no closer than five points at 40-35 after a basket by Edwards with 16:22 remaining.

Bellevue then went on a 9-0 scoring run to regain their double-digit lead at 49-35 after a free-throw by Nigel Wilson with 11:48 left.

The Bruins secured the victory as they maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game.  BU outscored DSU 29-24 in the final twenty minutes.

BU shot 50 percent from the field in the second half (10-of-20 field goals) and limited DSU to 25 percent (7-of-28 field goals).

Gill tied his season-high 16 points for Dakota State.  He also dished out four assists and stole the ball twice.  Akpan added nine points and three steals.  Uzo Dibiamaka scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds.  Uhana Ochan had nine points and collected eight rebounds. 

Edwards scored six points and grabbed a career-high six rebounds off the bench for the Trojans.  Haynes and Pankonen each added five points. 

Phillips led the Bruins with 13 points off the bench on his 4-of-6 field goals, including 3-of-4 from the 3-point arc, and hit a pair of free-throws.  Fritz added 12 points.  Makeem Loudermill had 10 points.

Liam Thompson scored seven points for BU.  Emarr Vinson pulled down eight rebounds.  Nigel Wilson contributed four assists.

Dakota State was 18-of-54 from the field, while Bellevue was 23-of-44 field goals.  The Bruins drained eight 3-pointers in 18 tries, while the Trojans were 6-of-20 3-pointers. 

Both teams were 11-of-19 from the free-throw line.

DSU outrebounded BU 36-26 and 12-3 on offensive boards, despite outscoring Bruins 8-3 in second chance points.

Bellevue outscored Dakota State 20-6 in points off turnovers and 34-12 in bench points.