February 16, 2019
BELLEVUE, Neb. – Bellevue (Neb.) shot 51.8 percent from the field Saturday evening at Gordon Lozier Center, pulling away past Dakota State (S.D.) by the score of 63-46. The Bruins completed the NSAA season series sweep over the Trojans.
Dakota State fell to 9-21 overall record and 4-10 NSAA conference record. Bellevue, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, clinched a share of the North Star conference regular-season title with an 11-3 record (Presentation, S.D.). The Bruins are 17-13 overall record.
The Trojans and Bruins exchanged lead 13 times for nearly first eleven minutes of the game. Trailing 19-18, Bellevue went on a 7-0 scoring run to open up a 25-19 lead with 7:04 left in the first-half.
BU led 31-23 at halftime. Both teams above 50 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game with the Bruins shooting 55.6 percent (15-of-27) compared to Dakota State 52.4 percent (11-of-21 field goals).
Bellevue went on a 20-9 run in the first 9:10 of the second-half, ballooning their lead to 51-32. The Bruins never looked back as they secured the victory, outscoring the Trojans 32-23 in the final twenty minutes of the game.
BU was 14-of-29 from the field (48.3 percent) in the second-half while holding DSU to 9-of-23 field goals (39.1 percent).
Justin Folkers and Josh McGreal each went 5-of-8 from the field for 12 points each for Dakota State. Anthony Costello tallied 10 points off the bench on his 5-of-10 field goals. Folkers grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Brady Elder added five rebounds and dished out five assists.
Elder, Brady Van Holland, Carson Rentz and Cody Muilenburg each recorded a steal for DSU.
Justin Bessard led the Bruins with 19 points on his 9-of-14 field goals. He also had four rebounds. Josh Meier scored 17 points off the bench (8-of-9 field goals). Austin Moore and Connor Dukes each had five rebounds. Sequan Walker scored six points and contributed six assists. Richard Reed stole the ball twice.
Bellevue shot 29-of-56 from the field. Dakota State was 20-of-44 field goals (45.5 percent). Both teams made three 3-pointers in the game.
DSU was 3-of-4 free-throws. BU made 2-of-3 free-throws.
The Bruins outrebounded the Trojans 30-23 in the game. BU outscored DSU 50-26 inside the paint.
Dakota State and Bellevue begin their postseason play in the opening round of the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball conference tournament on Wednesday evening.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
