Balance propels Bellevue to 13th Sweet 16

NAIA First & Second Round Schedule
NAIA National Tournament Bracket

HUNTINGTON, Ind. -- Jaden Phillips and RJ Smith combined for 43 points as five Bruins scored in double figures to lead the 14^th-seeded Bellevue University men's basketball team past over 6^th-seeded Graceland University 95-88 on Saturday evening in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.

In a contrast of styles from last night's 62-58 triumph, Bellevue showed they could match Yellowjackets' firepower (82.8 points per game), overcoming a career-defining 42-point effort by Graceland's Cole Bowen. The Bruins used a balanced attack, featuring five players scoring in double figures and Liam Thompson finishing with nine before fouling out in the final minute.

Bellevue's efficiency inside with RJ Smith and Mathok Mathok combined for 31 points on 11-13 shooting, and a plus-6 rebounding margin proved to be the difference-maker in a game that featured 8 lead changes and 5 ties.

With the win, the Bruins improve to 24-7 on the year and advances to the program's 13^th Sweet 16 which will be held next week in Kansas City, Mo. at historical Municipal Auditorium. Graceland concludes their season with an over record of 26-7.

Bellevue 95, Graceland 88

Bellevue and Graceland both got out to fast starts before a 13-2 run from the Yellowjackets shifted the momentum early in the period. After Josh Sanderson hit a 3-pointer to give the Yellowjackets a 12-9 lead, Graceland dominated the next three minutes. Cole Bowen and Micah Lamberth combined for several field goals, extending the lead to 23-14 before Bellevue could stabilize their defense.

Bellevue responded with a 15-5 counter-run to reclaim the lead before the break. Jaden Phillips was the catalyst during this stretch, scoring eight points on a variety of jumpers and a 3-pointer. His layup with 1:24 remaining in the half gave the Bruins a 42-41 lead, a slim margin they managed to carry into the locker room.

The Bruins opened the second period with an 11-5 Spurt over the first three minutes to gain some breathing room. Phillips continued his hot hand with two quick buckets and a free throw, while JJ Montgomery added a triple at the 19:02 mark. This pushed the Bruins' lead to 53-46, their largest of the half to that point.

Graceland jumped back in front with a 12-4 surge. The run was a balanced effort; Runey Hernandez and Trey Summers each hit critical shots from deep, and Carson Busch converted three straight free throws to give the Yellowjackets a 64-61 advantage with just over ten minutes to play.

Bellevue took the lead for good when Montgomery canned a three-pointer with 8:23 to play give the Bruins a 69-68 advantage. That keyed a 23-11 scoring advantage over the next 7:13 that gave BU a commanding 89-79 lead.

Arguably the most pivotal play came at the 2:13 mark when Smith was called for an over-the-back foul that would have sent Graceland to the line. Coach Lucas Gabriel successfully challenged for a hook and hold – one of two successful challenges in the final 2:30 by Gabriel– by Graceland that resulted in a flagrant being assessed to Lamberth and flipped the script. Smith sank both free throws and made a jumper in the paint to stretch the lead to eight with 1:59 to play.

Top Performers

Bellevue University

Jaden Phillips – 22 points (9-15 fg), 2-4 3-fg, 3 assists
RJ Smith – 21 points (8-9 fg), 5-6 ft, 11 rebounds (7 offensive), 5 assists
JJ Montgomery – 15 points (3-7 fg), 3-7 3-fg, 6-8 ft, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Jermaine Haliburton – 15 points (5-13), 3-8 3-fg, 4 rebounds
Mathok Mathok – 10 points (3-4 fg), 4-4 ft, 1 rebound

Graceland University

Cole Bowen – 42 points (14-23 fg), 4-8 3-fg, 10-13 ft, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Deundra Roberson– 19 points (6-12 fg), 4-8 3-fg, 2 blocks
Carson Busch – 11 points (4-7 fg), 3-3 ft, 3 rebounds

Inside the Numbers:

• Graceland out-shot Bellevue 58-57% from the floor and made 11 threes to BU's nine, out-shooting the Bruins 48-41% from downtown
• Bellevue out-rebounded the Yellowjackets 30-24 overall, doubling them up 10-5 on the offensive glass for a 14-5 edge in second chance points
• The Bruins took better care of the ball, turning it over just seven times to Graceland's 11 for an 11-6 scoring advantage in points off turnovers
• Bellevue shot 67% (20-30) at the line to Graceland's 81% (17-21)

National Tournament Notes:

• Bellevue improves to 26-22 all-time in NAIA National Tournament play
• With the victory, BU advances to the Sweet 16 for the 13^th time in program history and the first since 2017
• The Bruins will be making their first-ever appearance at Municipal Auditorium
• BU's Sweet 16 opponent will be 2-seed Rocky Mountain College, a team Bellevue played twice this season in Frontier Conference play losing by 3 at Rocky in January and by 4 at the BU Fieldhouse in February
• Bellevue is the lowest-seeded team to advance to the Sweet 16 since 2024 when both a 14-seed (Central Baptist) and a 15-seed (Evangel) reached the Round of 16

Up Next:

Bellevue will face 2^nd-seeded Rocky Mountain College at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 20 in Kansas City, Mo. for the NAIA National Tournament Round of 16 at Municipal Auditorium.