Late 3-pointers help Bruins upset No. 2 USF, 69-68

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BELLEVUE, Neb. -- In a game that featured 10 ties and nine lead changes, the Bellevue University men's basketball team drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute to edge No. 2 University of Saint Francis (Ind.), 69-68, in the BU Fairfield Inn & Suites Holiday Classic Friday evening at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.

With its second-straight victory over a ranked team, Bellevue improved to 11-7 overall. The Bruins defeated No. 20 Midland, 77-74, Thursday night in the first game of the Holiday Classic. The Saints fell to 13-3 on the season with the loss.

Jerred Cook led three Bruins in double figures, finishing with 15 points on a 5-of-10 performance from behind the arc. Jaffery Stillman recorded a double-double finishing with a career-high 11 points along with 11 rebounds. Nick Hilton was the third Bruin in double figures, registering 10 points to go along with four assists and three boards.

The Bruins overcame an early eight-point deficit and used an 11-2 run to take a 23-18 lead midway through the first half. The eight-point USF lead was the largest for either team in the hotly-contested battle. The Saints responded with a 13-4 run over a five-minute span, taking a 31-27 lead with 4:28 left in the opening period. 

A 3-pointer by Cook capped a 10-2 BU run giving the Bruins a four-point cushion at 37-33 with 1:29 left before halftime. A 15-foot jumper by Evan Henry pulled the Saints to within two points at the intermission, 37-35. 

Cook connected on three 3-pointers in the opening half, leading BU with nine points. Stillman recorded six points and five rebounds in the first period. 

Kyle Sovine paced the Saints in the first half with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while adding six rebounds. 

After the Saints scored the first five points of the second half to take a three-point lead, neither team could establish control with the largest lead for either team being four points until a layup by Kegan Comer gave USF a 68-63 advantage with 1:04 remaining in the contest. 

Cook quickly countered with a 3-pointer to slice the lead to two points at 68-66 with 54 seconds left. A triple by Cardenas gave BU a 69-68 lead with 17 ticks left on the clock. 

Kegan missed a 15-foot jumper with four seconds remaining and BJ Shelton grabbed the rebound to secure the BU upset victory. 

Sovine led the Saints with a game-high 21 points while adding seven rebounds and a blocked shot. Bruce Lienhoop added 15 points, six assists, six rebounds and two blocked shots. 

The Bruins will resume conference action on Saturday, Jan. 7, when they travel to Mayville, N.D. for a 5 p.m. contest against Mayville State University.