Montgomery's school-record 10 3-pointers power BU past Mystics, 90-79

Box Score
Frontier Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- JJ Montgomery set a school record with 10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 30 points to lead Bellevue University to a 90-79 Frontier Conference men's basketball victory over Bismarck State College on Friday night at the BU Fieldhouse.

With the win, Bellevue improved to 21-6 overall and 16-5 in Frontier Conference play while avenging an 81-73 road loss at Bismarck State on Jan. 10, which stands as the Mystics' lone victory this season. BSC fell to 1-26 on the year and 1-20 in league action.

Montgomery finished 10-of-14 from the field and 10-of-13 on 3-pointers, adding seven rebounds and four assists. Jaden Phillips added 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including six 3-pointers, while Ahamad Bynum contributed 13 points and a career-high eight assists.

How It Happened

Bellevue came out firing from long range, opening the game on a 20-0 run fueled by four 3-pointers from Montgomery, two 3-pointers from Phillips and a fast-break layup by Phillips. The Mystics did not score until the 13:51 mark, and the Bruins' early surge provided a double-digit cushion they would not relinquish.

BU continued to build on the lead as Phillips added three more 3-pointers in the first half and Liam Thompson and Mathok Mathok scored in the lane. Montgomery's record-setting shooting helped push the margin as high as 25 points before halftime, and the Bruins took a 50-27 advantage into the locker room after knocking down 11 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes.

Early in the second half, Bellevue's lead grew to 29 points, its largest margin of the night, as Montgomery and Phillips continued to connect from beyond the arc. Bismarck State gradually chipped away behind the scoring of Houston Davis, Alex Proctor, and Jah Gulley, using improved shooting and free throws to trim the deficit into the teens.

The Mystics pulled within 11 points in the final minute, but the Bruins' 20-0 start and 17 total 3-pointers provided more than enough separation to secure the 90-79 victory and a season split in the series.

Inside the Numbers

Bellevue shot 43.8 percent from the field (35-of-80) and 36.2 percent from 3-point range (17-of-47). Bismarck State finished at 49.1 percent overall and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc (9-of-21).

The Bruins held a 41-36 edge on the glass and converted 15 BSC turnovers into 21 points while committing just nine turnovers. BU owned advantages of 34-26 in points in the paint, 21-9 in points off turnovers, and 20-8 in second-chance points. The Bruins never trailed and led by as many as 29 points early in the second half.

Top Performers

Bellevue University

• JJ Montgomery: 30 points, 10-of-14 FG, 10-of-13 on 3-pointers, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

• Jaden Phillips: 22 points, 8-of-18 FG, 6-of-11 on 3-pointers, 2 assists, 1 steal

• Ahamad Bynum: 13 points, 5-of-16 FG, 1-of-9 on 3-pointers, 2-of-2 FT, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals

• Liam Thompson: 6 points, 3-of-4 FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

• RJ Smith: 5 points, 2-of-3 FG, 7 rebounds

Bismarck State College

• Houston Davis: 19 points, 6-of-10 FG, 2-of-4 on 3-pointers, 5-of-8 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 assists

• Alex Proctor: 17 points, 6-of-11 FG, 2-of-4 on 3-pointers, 3-of-4 FT, 4 rebounds

• Jah Gulley: 16 points, 5-of-10 FG, 6-of-7 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists

• Carter Zeller: 10 points, 3-of-4 FG, 2-of-3 on 3-pointers, 2-of-2 FT, 7 rebounds

Up Next

The Bruins host Dickinson State University tomorrow (Feb. 21) night, at 7 p.m. inside the BU Fieldhouse. Bellevue's seven seniors will be honored prior to tip-off as part of the Senior Night festivities.