POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- For the second time this season, Bellevue University and College of the Ozarks needed overtime to decide the game, as the Bruins edged the Bobcats, 75-74, Friday night at Keeter Gymnasium in Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference action.
Jordan Bernardo drained a three-pointer to send the game into overtime and Blake Zamudio made the game-winner with 11.3 seconds left in the extra period to propel the Bruins to the one-point conference win.
The Bruins have now won five-straight games and 12 of their last 13 to improve to 19-8 overall and 10-3 in the MCAC. BU also moved into sole possession of second place in the league. COFO fell to 16-10 and 5-7 in conference action.
Everett Robinson paced the Bruins with 19 points and six rebounds while Goodwin scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
Zamudio added 12 points, making four 3-pointers. Other Bruins in double-figure scoring included Dominique Grant and Shawn Tarver who each scored 10 points apiece. Grant also recorded five rebounds and four assists.
Mike Wiebe led the Bobcats with a game-high 22 points, but was just 6-of-21 from the field.
Trailing 19-17, the Bruins used a 9-2 run to take a 26-21 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the opening half. The Bobcats answered back and cut their deficit down to one, 26-25, but BU ended the first period by scoring 13 of the final 18 points to take a 39-30 lead at intermission.
COFO opened the second half by scoring 22 of the first 30 points, including the first nine points of the stanza, to take a 52-47 lead. The Bobcats held the Bruins without a field goal for the first 9:17 as BU missed its first seven attempts.
BU responded and used a 12-6 spurt to regain the lead, 59-58, on Goodwin's three point-play with just under six minutes remaining.
With the Bruins clinging to a two-point advantage, 66-64, Wiebe drained a 3-pointer to give the Bobcats the lead with only two minutes remaining.
After exchanging baskets on their next two possessions, the Bobcats made just two of their four free throw attempts in the final 30 seconds and Bernardo converted the game-tying thee-point basket in the final seconds to send the game into overtime.
Both teams struggled from the field in overtime as they combined for just 3-of-11 shooting, but Zamudio's three proved to be the difference.
The Bruins will continue their three-game conference road swing tomorrow (Feb. 9) with a 5:00 p.m. game at Central Christian College. BU defeated the Tigers 67-49 on Jan. 19 in Bellevue.
Scoring Summary
Bellevue.....39-31-5--75
Ozarks.......30-40-4--74
BU: Robinson, 19; Goodwin 14; Zamudio, 12; Tarver, 10; Grant, 10; Perry, 4; Bernardo, 3; Pettigrew, 3.
COFO: Wiebe, 22; Simniok, 20; Acord, 12; Sapara, 7; Williams, 5; Leonard, 4; Frazier, 4.\