MCPHERSON, Kan. -- The Bellevue University men's basketball team trailed just once as they defeated Central Christian College, 82-52, Saturday night in Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference action at the Dr. Jerry E. Alexander Arena.
Bellevue, ranked No. 14 in the NAIA, improved to 15-4 and 2-1 in conference play while Central Christian fell to 14-4 overall and 0-2 in the MCAC.
Given Kalipinde paced the Bruins with 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals. He also shot 7-of-11 from the field with a season-best three 3-pointers.
Michael Dotson made five of his six field goal attempts and scored 12 points while Thomas Hammock registered 11 points, including three 3-pointers.
Lee Ames, Isaiah Strong and Alex Worthen-Harris each scored 10 points. Ames added four rebounds and a career-high seven assists while Worthen-Harris chipped in seven rebounds.
With the game tied at 5-5, the Bruins scored the next 12 points to take control of the first half. BU led by double-digits the remaining of the stanza as they took a 20-point advantage at intermission, 40-20.
BU shot 38.7 percent from the field with six first half 3-pointers and held the Tigers to just 26.1 percent shooting in the opening period.
The Bruins led by 15 or more points the entire second half en route to the 30-point conference road win, 82-52.
BU finished with a shooting percentage of 49.2 percent, including a 60 percent mark in the second half. CCC was limited to 42 percent shooting from the field with 14 turnovers. The Bruins also held a 38-28 advantage in rebounds.
The Tigers were led by Aaron Miller's 13 points, five assists and four rebounds.
BU will play host to Central Baptist College (1-11, 0-2 MCAC) on Friday, Jan. 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
Scoring Summary
Bellevue..................40-42--82
Central Christian...20-32--52
BU: Kalipinde, 17; Dotson, 12; Hammock, 11; Ames, 10; Strong, 10; Worthen-Harris, 10; Redstar, 6; Droll, 2; Perry, 2; Sellers, 2.
CCC: Miller, 13; Gholston, 7; Nwosuh, 7; Rojas, 7; Fort, 6; Warren 6; Quant, 4; Adams, 2.
