Bruins fall to top-ranked WPU, 83-72, in NAIA Opening Round

Box Score
NAIA Opening Round - Oskaloosa Bracket Site
NAIA Opening Round Schedule/Results

OSKALOOSA, Iowa -- The Bellevue University men's basketball team battled throughout the contest before falling, 83-72, at top-ranked William Penn University in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round - Oskaloosa Bracket, Friday night at Penn Gymnasium. 

The loss ended the Bruins season with a 20-13 overall record. WPU improved to 31-1 overall and will meet IU Kokomo on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the championship game of the Oskaloosa Opening Round Bracket. IUK defeated Dordt, 82-80, earlier Friday night. 

Vinny Belcaster led the Bruins with 23 points and four rebounds. Justin Motley added 17 points, nine rebounds, and four blocked shots. Isaiah Bates finished with 17 points and a pair of boards. 

All five WPU starters finished in double figures, led by Frederick Jackson's 16 points. Kevion Blaylock recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Karmari Newman added 13 points and three assists. Q Cager finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Chanze Crusoe registered 10 points and six assists.  

The Bruins hit just three of their first 10 shots, as WPU grabbed an early 13-8 advantage. 

Five points from Bates during a 10-6 BU run tied the contest at 23-all with 7:24 left in the first half.

After the Bruins took their first lead of the contest at 25-24 following a layup from Belcaster at the 6:55 mark, the Statesmen responded with a 7-1 run to take a 31-26 advantage with 4:22 left before the intermission. 

Bates scored four-straight points to pull BU to within one at 31-30.

After a 3-pointer by Rodrigo Soares helped WPU build a six-point margin at 38-32, the Bruins battled back with layups by Paulo Araujo and Belcaster to make it a two-point contest at 38-36 before the Statesmen settled for a 41-37 halftime advantage. 

Bates led BU in the opening half with 13 points and two rebounds. Belcaster added 10 points and three boards. 

Cruesoe (10) and Blaylock (8) combined for 18 points to pace the Statesmen offense in the opening half. 

A 3-point play by Jackson to open the second half gave WPU its largest lead of the game at seven points (44-37). A 3-point play by Frederick gave the Statemen a nine-point advantage at 52-43 with 15:46 left in the game.  

After a layup by Newman gave the Statesmen their first double-digit lead of the contest at 55-45, the Bruins scored six-straight points capped by a 3-point play from Bates to draw BU to within four at 55-51 at the 13:44 mark. 

The Bruins scored just four points over the next five minutes as WPU gained a 12-point lead at 67-55. 

A free throw by Motley and a steal and layup from Christian Carter sliced the lead to single digits at 67-58 with eight minutes remaining.  

A pair of free throws by Belcaster made it an eight-point contest (69-61) at the six-minute mark. 

After WPU pulled away with a 9-4 run to take a 13-point lead, the Bruins made one last push, battling back to within seven at 79-72 following a 7-1 spurt capped by a short jumper by Motley with 30 seconds remaining.

WPU drained four free throws in the final 28 seconds to secure the 83-72 victory.