Free throws, late execution lift BU to comeback win over Iowa Wesleyan

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Keenami Maggard secured a vital offensive rebound and hit a pair of free throws with 1.5 seconds left to help guide the Bellevue University men's basketball team to a 71-68 win over Iowa Wesleyan University in game two of the Chick-fil-A Classic.

Bellevue starts the year 2-0 for the first time since while Iowa Wesleyan falls to 1-1 with the loss in the de facto championship game of the 2022 Chick-fil-A Classic.

BU came out of the gate strong. After allowing the first basket, Bellevue rolled off an 8-4 mini-run highlighted by threes from Raphael Allen and Paulo Araujo.

A jumper by Martis Johnson put Bellevue ahead 10-8 with 13:43 left in the half but that was the Bruins' final lead until the game's final minute.

Iowa Wesleyan used suffocating on ball defense throughout the game against which Bellevue struggled to run their offensive sets.

The Bruins trailed by 11 points with 20 seconds left in the first half before Vinny Belcaster gave the home team some momentum with a buzzer-beating three to send the Bruins to halftime trailing 37-29.

Throughout the second half, Bellevue made runs but each time Iowa Wesleyan answered and the Tigers led 66-60 after Francis Okwuosah sunk a pair of free throws with 3:57 left.

Bellevue began mounting their final charge with a crafty layup by Araujo at the 2:52 mark. Following a Jacoby Jones turnover, Araujo took a kick-out pass from Belcaster and hit a deep three from the wing to make it a one-point game.

A pair of defensive stops allowed Belcaster to tie the game hitting one of two free throws at the 1:31 and tipping in a put-back offensive board with 37.3 seconds to play to Bellevue ahead 68-66.

Victor Munoz answered with a layup with 18.7 seconds remaining but the Bruins called a timeout with 13.1 seconds to play to draw up the final play.

Belcaster drove the lane and drew a foul with 2.9 seconds remaining. After hitting the first, his second bounced off the front of the iron to Keenami Maggard who came flying across the lane to secure the offensive board. Maggard calmly sank both free throws with 1.5 showing on the clock.

Allante Pickens did not get off a desperation heave in time as Bellevue held on for the 71-68 win.

Maggard, Belcaster, Araujo, and Christian Carter, the principle actors in Bellevue's comeback bid, combined for 37 of BU's second half points.

Gacoby Jones paced the Tigers with 17 points dished out six assists. Victor Munoz scored 16 points off the bench on 8-of-10 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and blocked a pair of shots.

Bellevue turned the ball over just 11 times to IWU's 17 turnovers which turned into a 24-12 BU advantage at the other end.

Belcaster paced the Bruins with 18 points to go along with five rebounds. Maggard added 15 and Araujo tossed in 13 to join Belcaster in double figures with each also grabbing five boards.

Bellevue competes next weekend at the KWU Coyote Classic in Salina, Kan. where they face host Kansas Wesleyan Friday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. and Bethany College Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.