MITCHELL, S.D. -- The Bellevue University men's basketball team shot a season-best 58.6 percent from field as they defeated Dakota Wesleyan University 86-57 Friday night in the DWU Fulton State Bank Classic at the Corn Palace.
No. 19 Bellevue improved to 3-1 with the win while Dakota Wesleyan suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 2-1.
Lee Ames led the Bruins with 20 points, on 8-of-10 shooting, to go along with three rebounds and two assists.
Taylor Young scored 15 points and Thomas Hammock made four 3-pointers for 12 points.
Michael Dotson and Given Kalipinde both scored 10 points. Dotson also registered three assists while Kalipinde pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
Leading by one, 11-10, midway through the opening half, BU outscored the Tigers 31-16 to end the period and take a 16-point advantage at half, 42-26.
BU shot 51.6 percent from the field and was led by Ames' 14 first half points. Ames also made four of his five three point field goal attempts.
The Bruins opened the second half on a 7-2 run and led by as many as 33 (78-45) as they cruised to the nonconference road win, 86-57. BU made 18 of its 27 field goal attempts (66.7 percent) in the second period.
BU held a 33-30 edge in rebounds and forced 13 DWU turnovers. The Tigers shot 40.4 percent from the field.
Luke Bamberg led DWU with 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The Bruins will conclude tournament action tomorrow (Nov. 9) with a 4:00 p.m. contest versus No. 18 Dakota State University.
Game Scoring
Bellevue...................42-44--86
Dakota Wesleyan...26-31--57
BU: Ames, 20; Young, 15; Hammock, 12; Dotson, 10; Kalipinde, 10; Chonis, 6; Worthen-Harris, 5; Sanders, 4; Droll, 2; Sellers, 2.
DWU: Bamberg, 14; Bergh, 13; Voss, 11; Martin, 5; Miller, 5; Henriksen, 3; Gibson, 2; Vorwald, 2; Warkenthien, 2.