Bruin rally falls short as Hastings nabs 93-89 win

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BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University men's basketball team rallied from a 17-point first-half defict, taking the lead in the second period, before Hastings College pulled out a 93-89 win Wednesday night in the final game of the Fairfield Inn Holiday Classic at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.

Bellevue fell to 12-6 on the season with the loss. Hastings, which avenged a season-opening loss to the Bruins, improved to 10-4 overall. 

Nicolus Guzman (18) and TeShon Burton (17) combined for 35 points to lead the Bruin offense. Chris Burton added 12 points and four rebounds and Jerred Cook finished with 11 points as four Bruins garnered double-figure point totals.

Kendall Ferguson and Delquan Thomas each scored 20 points for the Broncos. Ferguson added 13 rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. 

The Broncos raced out to a 12-point (26-14) lead in the first eight minutes of the contest as BU struggled from the field in the opening minutes. A Connor Musiel tip-in pushed the Bronco advantage to 17 points (40-23) at the six-minute mark of the opening period. 

Two-consecutive 3-pointers by Guzman helped cut the Hastings lead to 12 at 43-31 with 4:10 remaining in the half. After the Broncos built a 16-point lead, BU closed the half on a 7-2 run to trail by 11 at the break, 49-38. 

The Bruins hit just 41.2 percent from the field in the first period, including a 5-of-15 performance from behind the arc. Bellevue was also plagued by nine first-half turnovers as HC scored 14 points off BU turnovers. 

Guzman, TeShon Burton, and Cook each scored eight points to pace the BU offense in the first half. Ferguson nearly recorded a double-double in the first half, leading the Broncos with 13 points and nine rebounds. 

A 3-pointer by Cook cut the deficit to single digits at 57-48 with 16:54 left in the game. Three free throws by Cardenas capped an 11-4 BU run as the Bruins drew to within three points at 63-60 at the 12:29 mark. 

Four-straight points from Chris Burton gave BU its first lead since the 17:23 mark of the first half at 70-69 with 8:43 left in the game.

The two teams traded baskets over the next eight minutes with neither team leading by more than three points. Two free throws by Carson Blum gave the Broncos a 90-87 advantage with 17 seconds remaining. TeShon Burton converted on two free throws with 11 second left to cut the lead to one. Blum made two more free shots at nine seconds and Ferguson sank one-of-two free throws after a BU turnover to give the Broncos the 93-89 victory. 

Three Bruins fouled out in the contest as BU collected a season-high 32 fouls with the Broncos sinking 29 free throws in the game. 

The Bruins return to action on Saturday, Jan. 2 when they travel to Olathe, Kan. to battle MidAmerica Nazarene University in a 2 p.m. non-conference contest. The Pioneers are currently ranked No. 13 in NAIA Division I.