Bruins smother Trojans in second half to take home NSAA crown

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BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University men's basketball team limited Dakota State University to just eight points over the first 18:31 of the second half to erase a five-point halftime deficit to claim the 2021 North Star Athletic Association Championship with a 63-57 victory over the Trojans.

With the victory, Bellevue improves their overall record to 20-13 and secures the NSAA's lone automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

Jemeil King led four Bruins in double digits with 16 points to go along with four assists and three steals. Justin Motley (12), Paulo Araujo (11), and Jaylen Wiltz (10) combined for 33 with Motley pulling down a team-high eight boards and Wiltz matching Vinny Belcaster with game-highs of five assists apiece.

Trailing by five at the break, Bellevue opened the second half on an 11-0 run to seize control of the game.

Gare Ewefada converted an and-one to cut the deficit to three points, 40-37, but that was as close as the Trojans would get the rest of the way.

Dakota State scored 15 points in the final 1:29 to threaten but Bellevue hit on 7-of-9 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

BU used a 14-3 run to stretch their lead to a game-high 14 points, 56-42, when Motley made a tip-in with 2:02 remaining.

Dakota State had the better of the Bruins in the opening half, leading for from 4-2 all the way through the break. The Trojans led by as many as 10 points on a jumper by Gairges Daow with 9:22 to play.

Bellevue hung around, as the deficit hovered between seven and nine the remainder of the half until Jemeil King hit a running floater at the buzzer to pull BU to within five, 34-29 at the break.

Daow scored a game-high 22 points for the Trojans but needed 19 shots to do so. Ewefada joined him in double figures with 10 points. Cole Bruhn added nine and Lamarr Wood chipped in eight to go along with a game-high nine rebounds.

Notes:

• The victory is Bellevue's 14^th conference tournament title and second since joining the North Star prior to the 2015-16 season.
• The Bruins' other NSAA Tournament title came in 2017 when the, preceding the team's most recent Fab Four run.
• Their NAIA National Tournament Appearance will be the 20^th in program history and first with split Division I and II.
• With the victory, Bellevue secures their 21^st 20-win season in program history, all coming since the 1998-99 season.
• Bellevue improves
• The NAIA National Tournament selection show takes place on Thursday, Mar. 4 at 7 p.m.
• 48 teams will partake in the Opening Round with the top 16 seeds earning a bye and the 16 Opening Round winners advance to the Final Site at historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.