BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Junior Richard Shepherd and senior Jelani Johnson combined for 35 points to lead the ninth-ranked Bellevue University men's basketball team to a 85-50 victory over Oklahoma Wesleyan University Saturday night in MCAC action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The Bruins improved to 22-5 on the season and 10-1 in the MCAC while clinching the MCAC regular season title. OWU dropped to 13-14 overall and 6-6 in league play.
Shepherd drilled six 3-pointers, scoring 19 points, while grabbing three rebounds. Johnson, playing in his final regular-season home game, collected 16 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and two blocks in the win.
Junior Blake Zamudio added 13 points, hitting 3-of-7 3-pointers on the night. Junior James Parrott was the fourth Bruin in double figures, finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Brian James led OWU with 12 points and five rebounds. Steven Cooks was the only other Eagle in double figures, finishing with 10 points.
Four-straight 3-pointers from Shepherd sparked a 16-4 Bruin run that gave BU a 34-12 advantage with 5:28 remaining in the first half.
Bellevue limited the Eagles to 27.6 percent shooting in the opening half as BU grabbed a 42-21 halftime lead.
Shepherd paced the Bruins with 13 first-half points.
The Eagles scored the first five-points of the second half to pull to within 16 points at 42-26, but OWU could get no closer as Bellevue outshot the Eagles 50 to 31 percent after halftime, while connecting on seven 3-pointers to record the 85-50 victory.
The Bruins travel to York, Neb. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, for a 7 p.m. MCAC contest at York College.
Note: Tonight's contest marked the final regular season home game for the Bruins' three seniors: Johnson, Ousseynou Diop, and Jeremy Arrington.
