BELLEVUE, Neb. - The No. 4 Bellevue University basketball team trailed by as many as 13 in the second half but a furious late rally wasn't enough as the Bruins dropped a 76-74 decision to Waldorf College in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference-opener for both teams.
Bellevue (14-3/0-1 MCAC) saw its season-best nine-game win streak come to a halt while Waldorf improved to 5-10 (1-0 MCAC) with the victory.
Jordan Nelson posted a double-double, finishing with 22 points and 14 rebounds while Trey Scott and Erik Brewer combined for 37 points for the Warriors who defeated Bellevue at the Lozier Athletic Center for the first time ever.
Junior Taylor Young (Hawthorne, Calif.) led the Bruins with 18 points while seniors Alex Worthen-Harris (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Percy Lemle (Carson, Calif.) chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Senior Olutola Olushola (Missouri City, Texas), making his first career start, scored eight points and pulled down six rebounds. Senior Thomas Hammock (Compton, Calif.) hit a pair of three-pointers on his way to eight points. It was the 14th time this season that Hammock knocked down at least two shots from beyond the arc.
A lay-up by Scott saw the Warriors stretch their lead to 12 at 65-53 with 6:30 to play. On the ensuing possession, Hammock hit canned a trifecta to pull the Bruins within single digits for the first time since the 9:22 mark. Following a missed shot, Young drew a foul and proceeded to hit both free throws to cut the deficit to seven.
With the defense ratcheted up, Worthen-Harris came away with a steal and delivered a thunderous one-handed breakaway dunk to the delight of the home crowd.
Bellevue would cut it as close as a single point at 70-69 with 2:20 to play but Waldorf made just enough free throws (4-8) down the stretch to hold on for the win.
Waldorf owned a 39-36 advantage on the class including a 16-14 edge in offensive rebounds, out-scoring the Bruins 24-15 in second chance points.
Bellevue returns to the hardwood on Friday, Jan. 16 with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off against Central Christian College at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
