Bruins post 81-69 season-opening win over Madonna

MARION, Ind. -- Jeremy Arrington led five Bruins in double figures with 19 points as the fourth-ranked Bellevue University men's basketball team posted an 81-69 season-opening victory over Madonna University at the Caleb Dimmich Tournament hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University. 

Madonna fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss.

Arrington finished the game with six 3-pointers on eight attempts. Jelani Johnson added 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists. James Parrott finished with 13 points and four rebounds. Blake Zamudio and Richard Shepherd chipped in with 10 points apiece. 

Ousseynou Diop pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds as Bellevue held a 48-41 margin in total rebounds. 

Fred Williams paced the Crusaders with 24 points. Williams, Bobby Naubert (20), and Travis Schuba (12) combined for 56 of Madonna's 69 points. 

The Bruin defense held Madonna without a field goal for the first seven and a half minutes of the game as Bellevue raced out to an early 15-3 lead. 

After a 3-pointer by Jeremy Arrington at 4:19 made it 34-21, the Crusaders stormed back, closing the half on a 15-2 run to tie the score at intermission at 36-all. Madonna made four-straight 3-pointers during the run. 

Arrington led the Bruins in the opening period with seven points, including two 3-pointers. Diop added eight rebounds, three blocked shots, and four points. 

Williams (12), Naubert (12), and Schuba (10) accounted for 34 of the Crusaders' 36 first-half points. 

Madonna took its first lead of the game on a field goal by Eaghann Stephens that gave the Crusaders a 38-36 advantage with 19:47 remaining in the game. 

A 3-pointer by Arrington capped a 10-0 Bruin run, putting BU up 49-42 at the 16-minute mark. Another 3-pointer by Arrington gave Bellevue a 10-point lead at 59-49 with 11:39 remaining. 

A 3-pointer by Williams pulled the Crusaders to within five points at 62-57 with seven minutes to go in the contest. The Bruins pulled away down the stretch, closing the game on a 19-12 run en route to the 81-69 victory. 

Bellevue (1-0) will battle the host school, No. 2-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University at 2 p.m. (central time) on Saturday, Nov. 5.