February 25, 2011
Johnson leads BU to MCAC Championship game
Box Score
Tournament Site
BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Junior Jelani Johnson tied a career-high with 17 points to lead the top-seeded Bellevue University men's basketball team to an 82-55 victory over Central Christian College in the second semifinal of the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Friday night at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The Bruins (26-5) advanced to the championship game against third-seeded College of the Ozarks on Saturday (Feb. 26) beginning at 5 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. Ozarks upset No. 2 seed and nationally No. 3-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan, 65-61, in the tournament's first semifinal.
The winner will receive an automatic berth into the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament on March 9-15 in Point Lookout, Mo.
Johnson, who was 8-of-12 from the field, added six rebounds, five assists and two steals in the victory. Jeremy Arrington finished with 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Avery Tyler and Eugene Bain both scored 12 points to round out the double-figure scoring.
The Tigers were led by Christopher Jones' 15 points and five rebounds.
Neither squad was able to establish control in the first period with the largest lead at five points for either team. Bellevue was led in the opening half with Johnson's eight points and two rebounds. Bain added seven points and four rebounds as the Bruins shot 50 percent (14-28) from the field to take a 34-29 advantage at the intermission
Kaleon Gary (eight points) and Don Gavin (seven points) led the Tigers in the first half, which featured four ties and seven lead changes.
Two-straight dunks highlighted a 10-0 Bruin run that allowed Bellevue to open up a 47-31 lead with 14 minutes remaining in the game. The Tigers responded with five-straight points by Jones to bring CCC to within 11 points at 49-38 at the 12:47 mark. That was as close as CCC would get.
The Bruins built an 18-point (58-40) margin after a 3-pointer from Ben Imig at the midway point of the half. After two-straight 3-pointers from Arrington and a pair of free throws from Bain, Bellevue led 69-42 with 7:39 remaining in the game.
The Tigers never got closer than 20 points the remainder of the contest, as Bellevue cruised to the 82-55 win, their third of the year over Central Christian.
Tournament Site
BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Junior Jelani Johnson tied a career-high with 17 points to lead the top-seeded Bellevue University men's basketball team to an 82-55 victory over Central Christian College in the second semifinal of the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Friday night at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The Bruins (26-5) advanced to the championship game against third-seeded College of the Ozarks on Saturday (Feb. 26) beginning at 5 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. Ozarks upset No. 2 seed and nationally No. 3-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan, 65-61, in the tournament's first semifinal.
The winner will receive an automatic berth into the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament on March 9-15 in Point Lookout, Mo.
Johnson, who was 8-of-12 from the field, added six rebounds, five assists and two steals in the victory. Jeremy Arrington finished with 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Avery Tyler and Eugene Bain both scored 12 points to round out the double-figure scoring.
The Tigers were led by Christopher Jones' 15 points and five rebounds.
Neither squad was able to establish control in the first period with the largest lead at five points for either team. Bellevue was led in the opening half with Johnson's eight points and two rebounds. Bain added seven points and four rebounds as the Bruins shot 50 percent (14-28) from the field to take a 34-29 advantage at the intermission
Kaleon Gary (eight points) and Don Gavin (seven points) led the Tigers in the first half, which featured four ties and seven lead changes.
Two-straight dunks highlighted a 10-0 Bruin run that allowed Bellevue to open up a 47-31 lead with 14 minutes remaining in the game. The Tigers responded with five-straight points by Jones to bring CCC to within 11 points at 49-38 at the 12:47 mark. That was as close as CCC would get.
The Bruins built an 18-point (58-40) margin after a 3-pointer from Ben Imig at the midway point of the half. After two-straight 3-pointers from Arrington and a pair of free throws from Bain, Bellevue led 69-42 with 7:39 remaining in the game.
The Tigers never got closer than 20 points the remainder of the contest, as Bellevue cruised to the 82-55 win, their third of the year over Central Christian.