December 3, 2022

BELLEVUE, Neb. – North Star Athletic Association men's basketball preseason favorite Bellevue (Neb.) shot a sizzling 56.1 percent from the field Saturday evening, rolling past Dakota State (S.D.) 85-65 in the conference opener at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.  The Bruins never trailed in the game to secure the victory.

The Trojans fell to 3-5 overall record, while the Bruins raised their overall record to 7-4.

Dakota State steps aside their North Star conference play Tuesday, visiting Trinity Bible (N.D.) in a non-conference contest.  Tip-off from Ray Ulmer Fieldhouse is set for 7 p.m. in Ellendale, N.D.

Bellevue (Neb.) 85, Dakota State (S.D.) 65 – FINAL

• Bellevue opened the game with a 2-0 lead after Paulo Araujo made a layup with nineteen minutes, four seconds on the clock.
• A steal by Chris Morales followed by an assist to Sam Muller for a layup as Dakota State tied the game at 2-2 with 18:31 left in the first half.
• Keenami Maggard made back-to-back baskets followed by Vinny Belcaster's lay-up sparked BU's 6-0 scoring run to extend their lead to 8-2 with 16:42 on the clock in the first half.
• DSU then scored the next four points on Deshawn Kelly's basket followed by Kevin Jones, Jr.'s layup to trim Bruins' lead to 8-6 with 15:36 to go in the first period.
• Jones drained a 3-pointer as the Trojans trailed 12-11 near midway through the first half. 
• At 29-23, Bellevue went on a 9-2 scoring run to balloon their lead to 38-25 capped with Christian Carter's 3-pointer with 1:12 left in the first half.
• DSU then went on a 6-0 run to cut BU's lead to 38-31 with less than 15 seconds to go after Jones' layup.
• Bellevue extended their lead at halftime to 40-31 after a pair of free-throws by Belcaster.
• The Bruins shot 14-of-27 from the field in the first half (51.9 percent) and held the Trojans to 13-of-33 field goals (39.4 percent).
• Dakota State could get no closer than seven points, kicking off the second half with a layup by Ronnie Latting (DSU trailed 40-33 with 19:41 remaining).
• Bellevue went on an 11-2 scoring tear to widen their lead to 51-35 after Taylor Pomeroy's 3-pointer with 17 minutes left.
• The Bruins outscored the Trojans 45-34 in the final twenty minutes of the game, thanks to their 60 percent field goal shooting (18-of-30 field goals) and 5-of-10 3-pointers.  DSU was 14-of-31 field goals (45.2 percent) and 1-of-7 from the 3-point line in the second half.
• Jones scored 16 points off the bench on his 7-of-11 field goal shooting for Dakota State.  Kelly and Latting each scored 12 points.  Muller added eight points and six rebounds.  Manny N'tula grabbed six rebounds and contributed three assists.
• Ethan Damerum had four points, four rebounds, and two blocks for the Trojans.  Ben Hoverson scored six points. 
• Four BU players scored in double digits, led by Maggard with 18 points off the bench on his 8-of-11 field goals and 2-of-2 free-throws.  He had six rebounds and three blocks.  Belcaster added 15 points.  He had four assists.  Araujo produced a double-double of 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.  He had four assists. 
• Justin Motley was perfect 6-of-6 from the field and made 3-of-4 free-throws for 15 points for Bellevue.  He grabbed five rebounds.
• Pomeroy scored 14 points for the Bruins. 
• Bellevue shot 32-of-57 overall from the field (56.1 percent) compared to Dakota State 27-of-64 field goals (42.2 percent).  The Bruins were 7-of-16 3-pointers, while the Trojans were 3-of-18 3-pointers.
• BU was 14-of-17 from the free-throw line.  DSU was 8-of-14 at the free-throw line.
• Bellevue outrebounded Dakota State 39-29 in the game. 
• BU outscored DSU 46-42 inside the paint, 15-8 in second chance points, and 35-26 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director