BU advances to MCAC title game with 82-74 win over Waldorf

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BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The ninth-ranked Bellevue University men's basketball team avenged two regular-season losses to Waldorf College, defeating the Warriors, 82-74, Saturday night, to advance to the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship game for the sixth-straight year.

Bellevue (27-5) will play at College of the Ozarks on Tuesday, March 3 at 8 p.m. in the title game in Point Lookout, Mo. The Bobcats defeated Central Christian, 96-66, in the other semifinal.

The Bruins nailed a season-high 17 3-pointers in the victory. 

Pogos Trunyan tied a career-high with 21 points on seven 3-pointers to lead the Bruin offense. Percy Lemle added 13 points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Taylor Young was the third Bruin in double figures, finishing with 11 points. Marquis Aaron pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds, to go along with six points. 

Trey Scott paced the Warriors with 36 points and six rebounds. Erik Brewer finished with 15 points and five boards. MCAC Player of the Year Jordan Nelson added 14 points and nine rebounds. 

Scott scored 20 first-half points on 8-of-12 shooting as Waldorf grabbed a 40-38 lead at the intermission. The Warriors outshot BU in the opening period 54.8 to 36.4 percent, but the Bruins hit ten 3-pointers to stay within two points at the break. 

Trunyan hit four triples in the first half, leading BU with 12 points. 

The Bruins used an 11-0 run to grab a 55-48 advantage with 15:50 remaining in the contest. 

Four-straight points from Yusuf Shehata gave BU a nine-point margin at 61-52 at the 14-minute mark. 

After two-straight Warrior 3-pointers cut the deficit to three points, the Bruins responded with a 9-4 run to extend the lead to 70-62 with 9:18 left in the contest. 

The Warriors countered with an 11-3 run to knot the contest at 73-apiece with 5:39 remaining, before five-straight Bruin points gave BU a 78-73 advantage with just over three minutes left in the game.  

The two teams traded free throws as the margin stayed at five points at the one-minute mark. The Bruins knocked down three free throws in the final 23 seconds to seal the 82-74 victory.