NSAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal Preview

BELLEVUE, Neb. ­-- The Bellevue University men's basketball team hosts the first round of the North Star Athletic Association Tournament on Thursday, Feb. 25. The Bruins, the tournament's second seed, will take on 7^th-seeded Mayville State University in a quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.

Bellevue (20-10 / 7-3 North Star) claimed a share of their seventh straight conference regular-season championship over the weekend. The Bruins have won eight of their last 11 games and are ranked No. 23 in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll.

Mayville State (16-11 / 6-8 North Star) has posted an 11-5 mark in their last 16 games after a slow start to their season including wins over conference co-champions Valley City State and Dakota State.

The Series:

Bellevue and Mayville State have met three times prior, with BU holding a 2-1 edge in the all-time series. Mayville State won the first match-up in the Bruins' first-ever NAIA National Tournament game. The Bruins claimed a victory over the Comets last year in the Dakota Wesleyan Classic and nabbed a road win in the two school's lone meeting this year back on Dec. 11.

Last Meeting:

Senior Nicolus Guzman scored a career-high 23 points to lead the 13^th-ranked Bellevue University men's basketball team to an 81-71 victory Friday night in North Star Athletic Association action at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.

For the full recap: http://bubruins.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20151211fwoow2

Bellevue Game Notes:

• Bellevue is 3-2 against opponents that are either nationally ranked or receiving votes.
• Bellevue has won or shared seven-straight conference regular-season championships.
• With their win over Viterbo this past Friday, the Bruins have now won at least 20 games in 16-straight seasons.
• Bellevue is 8-3 at home this season, including a 3-1 mark in conference games.
• Mike Cardenas ranks 12^th in Division II in 3-Point Field Goals Made (88)
• Mike Cardenas ranks 15^th in Division II in 3-Point Field Goals Made per Game (3.03)
• Jerred Cook ranks 17^th in Division II in 3-Point Field Goal Percentage (45.3%)

Mayville State Game Notes:

• Mayville State won two of their last three games to jump into the seventh position in the conference tournament.
• The Comets are 1-3 against ranked opposition this season with their lone win coming at Valley City on Feb. 3.
• Mayville State is 5-9 in true road games this year, including a 3-3 mark in conference games.
• Chuck Robinson ranks 25^th in Division II in Offensive Rebounds per Game (2.92)
• Jamal Branco ranks 27^th in Division II in Assists per Game (4.63)
• Chuck Robinson ranks 30^th in Division II in Field Goal Percentage (55.1%)
• Jamal Branco ranks 31^st in Division II in Assists (125)
• Chuck Robinson ranks 42^nd in Division II in Blocked Shots per Game (1.35)
• Chuck Robinson ranks 44^th in Division II in Rebounds per Game (8.00)
• Chuck Robinson ranks 47^th in Division II in Blocked Shots (35)

Players to Watch:

Bellevue –

• Jr. G Mike Cardenas (13.5 ppg, 88 3-pointers, 82.9% FT, 38 assists)
• Sr. F Chris Ashanti (10.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 79.1% FT)
• Sr. G Nicolus Guzman (9.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 43 3-pointers, 52.2% FG, 82.8% FT, 37 assists)
• Jr. F Chris Burton (7.5 ppg, 44.9% FG, 52 assists, 18 blocks)
• Sr. F Marquis Aaron (7.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 63.8% FG, 38 assists, 23 steals)

Mayville State –

• Sr. F Chuck Robinson (14.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 55.1% FG, 35 blocks)
• Sr. G Jamal Branco (12.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 47.9% FG, 125 assists, 40 steals)
• Sr. G Darnell Landon (9.7 ppg, 49.0% FG, 77.8% FT, 47 assists)
• Sr. G A.B. Najee (7.4 ppg, 82.5% FT, 27 3-pointers, 32 assists)
• Sr. G Antar Johnson (6.5 ppg, 37 3-pointers, 14-14 FT)

What's next?:

The winner of this game advances to Saturday evening's semi-final game against the winner of 3^rd-seeded Dakota State and sixth-seeded Waldorf. Game time is tentatively slated for 7 p.m. and will be played on the campus of the higher seed.