BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Five players scored in double figures as the 24th-ranked Bellevue University men's basketball team recorded an 88-74 non-conference victory over Grace (Neb.) University Wednesday night in the Bruins' home opener in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
Both teams are now 1-2 on the season.
Blake Wilder led the Bruins with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals. Jaffery Stillman also recorded a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 14 boards. Nick Hilton drained four 3-pointers, finishing with 14 points and two rebounds. Jalen Hall collected 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists. BJ Shelton was the fifth Bruin in double figures, finishing with 10 points, to go along with five rebounds and an assist.
DJ Hanes led the Royals with 29 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Hanes scored 27 of his 29 points in the second half.
The Bruins shot 46.7 percent in the opening half and hit six 3-pointers to grab a 42-25 halftime advantage. Hall led BU in the first half with 12 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists. The Royals connected on just 32.1 percent of their first-half attempts and committed 13 turnovers.
Grace used a 13-6 run early in the second half to cut the deficit to 14 points at 54-40 at the 14-minute mark. Seven-straight points from Hanes drew the Royals to within 10 points at 59-49 with 10 minutes remaining.
A pair of free throws by Hanes cut the lead to single digits at 62-54 at 9:27.
Five points each from Stillman and Hilton highlighted a 10-2 Bruin run as BU pushed the lead to 16 points (72-56) with 6:36 remaining.
Hanes capped a 9-2 Royals' run with a 15-foot baseline jumper to once again slice the BU lead to nine points at 74-65 with 5:15 remaining. Two free throws by Hanes made it 77-68 at the four-minute mark.
The Bruins ended the game on an 11-6 run to secure the 88-74 victory.
BU finished with a 42.6 percent shooting percentage, while the Royals hit 39.1 percent of their shots, after improving to 51.5 percent after halftime.
The Bruins will travel to Sioux City, Iowa on Friday, Nov. 5 for a 7 p.m. contest at Morningside College.
