Fast start not enough as Bruins fall to DWU

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The #14 Bellevue University men's basketball team got off to a fast start against #17 Dakota Wesleyan University on Monday evening but were unable to sustain in an 86-77 loss to the Tigers at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center in BU's home-opener and DWU's season-opener.

Records:

#17 Dakota Wesleyan: 1-0
#14 Bellevue: 0-3

Recap: #17 Dakota Wesleyan 86, #14 Bellevue 77

Bellevue raced out to an 11-2 lead just 4:44 into the contest but were unable to keep Dakota Wesleyan at bay as the Tigers responded by scoring a 10-1 run of their own to tie things up by the midway point of the first half.

After a trey from Stephen Matthews re-established a two-possession lead with 7:36 to play, DWU ran off a 10-2 run to go up 24-22. The game went back and forth for the remainder of the period and proceeded to halftime tied at 35-35.

Early on in the second half the game remained a back-and-forth affair with BU taking a 47-46 lead on a layup by Sequan Walker with 12:34 to go.

That was the last lead of the game for the Bruins. Dakota Wesleyan seized control of play with a 16-7 run to go up 62-54 with 7:46 left on the clock. Bellevue never got closer than four the rest of the way.

Richard Reed scored a game-high 25 points to lead three Bruins in double figures. Tynan Velasquez and Walker scored 12 and 10, respectively. Matthews tossed in eight points and pulled down five boards.

Following a pair of double-doubles Josh Meier was held to five points with a frustrating 2-of-8 effort from the floor in a very physical game.

Returning All-American Ty Hoglund scored 19 points to lead the Tigers but took 19 field goal attempts to do so.

Nick Harden (17), Aaron Ahmadu (14), Samuel McCloud (13), and Koln Oppold (12) each joined Hoglund in double-figures on Monday.

Field goal percentages were even throughout the game with Dakota Wesleyan holding a 43.9-42.3 percent edge. BU out-shot the Tigers from deep 38.5-23.3 percent but DWU won the game at the line where they shot made 21-of-30 free throws, compared to BU's 7-of-11 performance.

Up Next:

Bellevue hosts the four-team BU/NCC Classic beginning on Friday, Nov. 2. The Bruins face Lincoln Christian University at 11 a.m. at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.