Late basket sees VCSU upend Bellevue

NSAA Standings

VALLEY CITY, N.D. -- Alex Quist scored on an offensive rebound after a blocked shot in the final seconds as the Bellevue University men's basketball team fell to Valley City State University, 66-65, on Saturday evening in North Star Athletic Association play at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.

Bellevue saw their three-game win streak come to a half as they fall to 14-10 overall and 6-5 in NSAA play while the win saw VCSU improve to 9-15 (3-9 NSAA).

The Bruins took a three-point lead into the final two minutes which was cut to one after a pair of free throws from Ferguson cut it to 64-63 with 1:22 to go. With 40 seconds to go Galloway hit the second of two free throws to tie the game before Shelton hit one-of-two at the Bruin offensive end to go up 65-64 with 20 seconds to set up the final possession.

Rashad Satahoo took a shot with five seconds that was blocked by Brandon Fagins but rebounded by Alex Quist who scored the put-back to secure the Valley City win.

With the score tied at 3-3, Bellevue went on a 7-0 run, capped by a Drew Apsher three-pointer, over the next 2:39 to create some separation. The lead was fairly short-lived as the Vikings responded by scoring 15 of the next 20 points to go up 18-15 on a Justyn Galloway trey.

The remainder of the first half was played much tighter as neither team got up by more than two possessions with Bellevue taking a 35-32 lead into the locker room.

Richard Reed led the Bruins with 11 first half points followed by Austin Moore with seven. Galloway led the Vikings with 11 of his own and Rashad Satahoo poured in nine over the first 20 minutes.

VCSU could credit their hot shooting in the first half, including a 46.7 percent mark from three for only being down three points despite turning the ball over five times to Bellevue's two and being out-scored 9-0 in points off turnovers and 6-2 in second chance points.

The second half started in a similar manner to the end of the first half before Valley City rattled off seven-straight points in 40 seconds to seize a 45-40 lead with 13:27 to play. A short time later BU ran off six points in a row, in just 61 seconds, to tie the game at 47-47 with 10:35 showing with a bucket from BJ Shelton.

Bellevue reclaimed the lead with 8:41 on a three-pointer from Connor Dukes, going up 50-49, the first time they'd been ahead since the 15:04 mark. That lead, however, was short-lived as Jayden Ferguson scored on the ensuing possession, the Vikings got a stop on the defensive end, and Satahoo drained a three-pointer to go up 54-50.

VCSU kept their lead until Austin Moore scored with 4:54 to go putting BU up 58-57 entering the home stretch. After a pair of free throws from Galloway gave the Vikings a one-point lead, Nick Hilton drained a three on the next possession to put Bellevue up by a bucket.

Moore led the Bruins with 15 points as Shelton (12) and Reed (11) joined him in double figures. Dukes added six and Hilton five while Jaffery Stillman pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.

Valley City was led by Satahoo's 21 points. Galloway picked up a double-double – 14 points, 10 rebounds – and Ferguson added 12 for the Vikings.

The Bruins, after winning all three games of their road trip, return home on Friday, Feb. 2 as they host Presentation College at 7:30 p.m. at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.