Bruins edge Central Baptist, 77-72

Box Score | MCAC Standings

CONWAY, Ark. -- The Bellevue University men's basketball team posted a 77-72 win at Central Baptist College in Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference action Friday night at A.R. Reddin Fieldhouse.

Bellevue, ranked No. 10 in the NAIA, has now won nine of its last 10 games and improved to 22-5 and 9-2 in the MCAC. Central Baptist dropped to 4-18 overall and 2-9 in the conference.

Lee Ames paced the Bruins with 13 points and made all six of his free throws in final seconds to help BU secure the road win.

Taylor Young scored 12 points and Isaiah Strong added 11 off the bench.

Given Kalipinde led BU with six rebounds and chipped in eight points.

Despite shooting just 39.3 percent in the first half, the Bruins took a seven-point lead at halftime, 35-28. BU made four 3-pointers in the first period and was led by Ames' seven first-half points.

The Bruins scored eight of the first 11 points in the second half before CBC went on a 24-7 spurt to take a 55-50 lead midway through the stanza.

BU answered back and outscored the Mustangs by 10, 27-17, to end the game and escape with the 77-72 win.

The Mustangs shot 52 percent from the field while the Bruins were held to 40.4 percent shooting.

Bryan Tardy led CBC with a game-high 20 points and added five assists.

The Bruins will travel to Point Lookout, Mo. tomorrow (Feb. 15) to battle College of the Ozarks (19-7, 7-4 MCAC). Tip-off is slated for 5:00 p.m. at Keeter Gymnasium.

Scoring Summary
Bellevue..............35-42--77
Central Baptist...28-44--72

BU: Ames, 13; Young, 12; Strong, 11; Hammock, 9; Worthen-Harris, 9; Chonis, 8; Kalipinde, 8; Redstar, 7.

CBC: Tardy, 20; Eskridge, 13; Chatters, 9; Brown, 8; Huskey, 8; Thomas, 8; Brewster, 6.