YORK, Neb. -- The Bellevue University men's basketball team battled back from 12-point first-half deficit but fell just short as Friends University recorded a 74-72 win on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Jordan Murdock, Saturday afternoon at the York (Neb.) College Classic.
Bellevue fell to 0-2 on the season while the Falcons improved to 1-1 overall.
Jalen Hall led the Bruins with 17 points, four assists, three rebounds and a blocked shot. BJ Shelton added 12 points and four rebounds. Terrance Wienecke was the third Bruin in double figures, finishing with 12 points and five boards.
Toby Baxter paced the Falcons with 21 points and seven rebounds. Murdock added 16 points, including his team's final eight points.
The Bruins outshot Friends 45 percent to 42.4 percent, but the Falcons connected on nine more 3-pointers in the contest.
After cutting the lead to four points at 38-34 on a field goal by Hall with 35 seconds remaining in the opening period, FU grabbed a six-point halftime advantage after a pair of free throws by Baxter made it 40-34.
Five-straight points from Baxter stretched the Falcon lead to 12 points (54-42) with 13:36 left in the contest.
A 3-point play by Hall capped a 16-1 Bruin run, giving BU a 68-64 advantage at the 2:44 mark. After another Hall field goal kept the BU lead at four points with 1:33 remaining, Murdock scored five-straight points to give FU a 71-70 lead with 36 seconds remaining.
A pair of free throw from Mike Cardenas put BU up 72-71 with 12 second left, before Murdock nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Falcons the dramatic, 74-72, victory.
The Bruins return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 2, when they host Grace (Neb.) University at 5:30 p.m. at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
