YORK, Neb. -- Chris Ashanti scored a game-high 22 points while he and Marquis Aaron recorded double-doubles to lead the Bellevue University basketball team to a 92-86 overtime win over Hastings College in the season-opener for both teams at the York College Classic.
Bellevue couldn't slow down the hot shooting of the Broncos in the opening half as Hastings connected on 52.9 percent of their shots, including going 5-for-11 from deep. The Broncos led by as many as 10 with 2:27 to play in the half following Connor Musiel's second straight three-pointer.
Bellevue trailed by eight at halftime and by seven with 2:38 to play but rallied to force overtime when Aaron sunk a pair of free throws with just eight seconds left, tying the game at 72-72. Hastings had a chance to grab the win in regulation but Musiel's three-point attempt at the buzzer was no good.
Ashanti scored Bellevue's first six points in overtime to give the Bruins a 78-77 lead in the extra session. Hastings led 84-82 before a pair of free throws by Ashanti tied the game with 1:04 to play. Following a defensive stop Carl Robinson knocked down a jumper to give the Bruins and 86-84 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish. Ashanti sank four free throws in the final minute and Robinson knocked down a pair of his own as the Bruins held on for a 92-86 win.
As mentioned, Ashanti led the Bruins with 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Aaron went for 14 points and hauled in a game-high 13 boards. Robinson and Mike Cardenas finished with 17 and 12 points, respectively, to join the double-figure scoring effort. Jerred Cook dished out a team-best five assists on the night.
BU shot just 38.9 percent from the field – and 25 percent from beyond the arc – but clamped down defensively in the second half and made the most of their opportunities from the free throw line to complete the comeback. Bellevue hit on 29-for-40 (72.5%) of their free throw attempts while Hastings was just 12-for-22 (54.5) from the charity stripe.
With the win, BU has now won three-straight season-openers and improves to 6-2 under head coach Shane Paben in such games.
Jake Hansen led Hastings with 22 points of his own while Musiel (20), Delquan Thomas (14), and Drew Callaghan (13) joined in double figures. It was a double-double for Callaghan who added 10 rebounds on the night. David Plain dishes out six helpers for Hastings
The No. 8 Bruins (1-0) return to the hardwood tomorrow with a 3 p.m. contest against Friends University.
