BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Another balanced scoring attack paced the Bellevue University men's basketball team to a 80-68 victory over visiting Grace University on Tuesday evening at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
Bellevue rode hot first half shooting to take a 16-point, 44-28 lead into the intermission. The Royals scored the first five points of the game before Bellevue connected on back-to-back three-point attempts by Nicolus Guzman and Olutola Olushola.
A layup by Marquis Aaron at the 13:44 mark gave the Bruins a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Hakeem Stewart paced the Royals with 11 first half points on his way to a game-high 22 on the evening.
Grace showed no quit in the second half, out-scoring the Bruins by a 40-36 margin, pulling within 10 points at 78-68 following a three by Steward but it was too little, too late. Guzman connected on a pair of free throws with 33 seconds left on the ensuing possession to provide the final margin.
Joining Stewart in double-figures for Grace was LeRoy Anderson who finished the night with 15 points.
Bellevue saw six players reach double-figures while Mike Cardenas added nine points. Guzman led the way with 12 points followed by Jerred Cook with 11 and Olushola, TeShon Burton, Chris Burton, and Bobby Fisher each chipped in 10 on the evening.
Bellevue was out-rebounded, 38-66, for just the third time this season while improving to 2-1 in games in which they are out-rebounded. Aaron and Phillip Cherry paced Bellevue with five boards apiece. The Bruins recorded assists on 18 of their 20 field goals led by four each from Olushola and Guzman.
The win was the 200th of Bellevue head coach Shane Paben's eight-year career.
Bellevue (10-4 | 2-1 North Star) steps back into conference play on Friday, Dec. 18 with a 7 p.m. contest at Presentation College (7-1 | 0-0 North Star).
Bellevue pays Grace a return visit on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.
