Bellevue tops VCSU on buzzer-beater in Sunday matinee

Box Score
NSAA Standings

VALLEY CITY, N.D. -- Richard Reed drove the length of the court in 3.7 seconds to score a buzzer-beating layup to give the Bellevue University men's basketball team a 67-65 win over host Valley City State University in a North Star Athletic Association match-up at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon.

Records:

Bellevue: 10-11 (4-1 NSAA)
Valley City State: 4-12 (1-4 NSAA)

Recap: Bellevue 67, Valley City State 65

With a one-point BU lead Sequan Walker sank a pair of free throws with 16.2 seconds to play to give the Bruins a 65-62 lead.

After a pair of VCSU timeouts designed to get the ball into the front court and set up a play Logan Nelson drained a contested trey to tie the game with 3.7 seconds to play in regulation.

Following a 30-second VCSU timeout Justin Bessard hit Richard Reed in stride with the inbounds pass and Reed went the length of the floor, beating his man for an uncontested layup, for the game-winner.

Bellevue led by as many as eight points in the first half but the Bruins were out-scored 15-4 over the final 8:30 by the Vikings. Christian Kvilkang knocked down a three-pointer just ahead of the halftime buzzer from to give VCSU a 30-27 lead into halftime.

Valley City led by five on a couple of occasions in the second half but Bellevue kept the game close. The Bruins used a 9-0 scoring run over a span of 2:09 to snag a four-point lead at 50-46.

The Bruins would not trail the rest of the way, even matching their largest lead of the game with 9:07 to play on a three from Reed to go up 56-48.

The Vikings methodically chipped away at the Bruin lead until pulling within one, 61-60, when Nelson knocked down a triple with 2:09 to go. Jaron Dickson and Nelson traded jumpers on the next two possessions to set up the thrilling finish.

Walker finished with 15 points and six boards to lead BU in both categories. Reed joined him in double-figures with 11 points while Bessard and Stephen Matthews each tossed in nine and Josiah De La Cerda contributed eight.

Nelson led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Michael Cornelious scored 12 off the bench to join in in double-figures while Chris Morgan and Jake Skelly each chipped in nine points for the Vikings.

Up Next:

Bellevue returns home next weekend when they host a pair of North Star Athletic Association games in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. The Bruins welcome Viterbo University (9-10/2-3 NSAA) for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on Friday evening before squaring off against Waldorf University (5-13/1-4 NSAA) at 5 p.m. on Saturday.