Bruins escape with overtime win at Central Christian, 78-76

MCAC Standings

McPHERSON, Kan. -- Everett Robinson nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime and Jamil Goodwin recorded 26 points and 15 rebounds as the Bellevue University men's basketball team escaped with a 78-76 win at Central Christian College Saturday evening in Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference action.

The Bruins, who are now 3-0 in overtime games this season, improved to 20-8 on the season and 11-3 in the MCAC. The Tigers dropped to 17-9 overall and 6-7 in league play.

Goodwin notched his team-leading 10th double-double of the season and his 26-point performance was a career high. Robinson finished with 17 points, including five 3-pointers. Shawn Tarver registered 11 points and four boards and Dominique Grant collected 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Central Christian had four players in double figures, led by Michael Lyons with 18 and Kaleon Gary with 17.

The Tigers grabbed their largest lead of the first half at 27-18 following a bucket by Lyons with just over five minutes remaining in the period. Bellevue capped an 8-2 run with a 3-pointer by Blake Zamudio to cut the deficit to three points at 29-26 at the 3:15 mark.

After CCC pulled ahead 34-28, the Bruins scored five-straight to end the half, trailing by just one at 34-33.

Goodwin led the Bruins in the first half with 11 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Robinson added eight points. Jeff Jackson paced the Tigers with nine points and ended the game with 16.

Central Christian opened the second half on a 16-7 run to pull ahead by 10 points (50-40) with 14 minutes remaining in the contest. Goodwin drilled a pair of buckets during a 6-0 BU run as the Bruins clawed their way back to within four points (50-46) at the 11-minute mark.

The Bruins drew to within one point at 55-54 following a pair of free throws by Thaddeus Perry at 6:49. Four-straight free throws by Grant gave the Bruins their first lead of the second half at 61-59 with two minutes left in the game.

The Tigers answered with a bucket by Lyons and a 3-point play by Jackson to take a 64-61 lead with 55 seconds remaining.

After a putback by Goodwin pulled BU back to within one point, the Tigers nailed four-straight free throws to go up by five with 20 seconds left in regulation. Robinson drained two 3-pointers in the final 14 seconds, including one at the buzzer to force overtime at 69-69.

Tarver and Grant combined for seven points in the overtime as BU built a 78-73 lead before a 3-pointer by Kris Quant with two seconds remaining made the final, 78-76.

The Bruins will travel to Forest City, Iowa on Tuesday, Feb. 12 for a 7:30 p.m. MCAC contest at Waldorf College. 

Scoring Summary

Bellevue..................33 36 9 - 78
Central Christian.....34 35 7 - 76

BU:Goodwin, 26; Robinson, 17; Tarver, 11; Grant, 10; Bernardo, 5; Perry, 4; Zamudio, 3; Dotson, 2
CC: Lyons, 18; Gary, 17; Jackson, 16; Jones, 13; Quant, 6; Brooks T., 3; Brooks,S, 3