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POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- The seventh-ranked Bellevue University men's basketball team shot just 33.3 percent from the field as Grace (Ind.) University pulled out a 54-50 upset Thursday morning in the opening round of the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Tourament at Keeter Gymnasium.
The Bruins ended their season with a 28-6 overall record.
Grace (22-10) advanced to the second round and will meet the winner of the Midland University/Southern Oregon University game on Friday at 1:45 p.m.
Taylor Young, who was held scoreless in the second half, led the Bruins with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists. Dimitri Chonis and Marquis Aaron both chipped in eight points apiece and Chonis grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
Logan Irwin paced the Lancers with 21 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Led by Young's 11 points, three assists and two rebounds, the Bruins grabbed a 33-30 lead at halftime. Aaron was 4-of-4 from the field in the opening period, registering eight points and four boards.
Irwin led the Lancers with 12 first-half points and three assists.
Both teams struggled offensively early in the second half with eight total points scored in the first seven minutes after intermission.
Bellevue was held scoreless for the first four minutes of the second period as Grace pulled ahead 34-33, before the Bruins used a 7-0 run to take a 40-34 lead with 12:42 remaining in the contest. The six-point margin was the largest of the game for either team.
The Lancers used a 13-7 run over the next eight minutes to tie the contest at 47-47 with 4:34 left in the game.
Two free throws by Irwin gave the Lancers a 51-50 lead at 1:29. Kyle Fillman nailed 1-of-2 free throws with nine seconds remaining, but Grace grabbed the rebound on the miss and Irwin was fouled with two seconds left. Irwin drained both free throws to give the Lancers the 54-50 victory.
Bellevue managed just 17 points in the second half, shooting 19.2 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from 3-point range.
Notes
- The Bruins made their 13th-straight appearance in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament.
- Bellevue is 11-5 in first round games.
- The Bruins own a 21-16 all-time record in the National Tournament.
- Head coach Shane Paben is 9-7 in National Tournament games.
- The MCAC finished 0-2 in the 2015 NAIA National Tournament.
