BELLEVUE, Neb. -- BJ Shelton scored 29 points, including nine-straight in a crucial late BU run as the 22nd-ranked Bellevue University men's basketball team defeated visiting Dakota State University, 78-68, Saturday evening in North Star Athletic Association action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The Bruins, who won their eighth-straight game, improved to 14-7 on the season and 6-2 in the NSAA. DSU fell to 9-11 overall and 3-5 in league action.
Shelton poured in 21 points in the second half, including a 9-of-10 performance from the field to help the Bruins overcome a five-point halftime deficit. He finished 13-for-20 from the field for the game while adding nine rebounds, two steals, and an assist.
Mike Cardenas added 12 points, five rebounds, three steals and an assist.
Kyle Kilgore led the Trojans with 27 points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots.
The two teams traded baskets in the early going until the Trojans used a 14-3 run to take a 12-point lead at 36-24 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half.
The Bruins closed the half on a 9-3 run to trim the DSU advantage to 43-38 at the intermission.
Cardenas led BU in the first half with 11 points.
DSU, which shot 57.1 percent in the opening period, was led by Kilgore's 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
After a Kevin Daniels' jumper gave the Trojans a six-point lead at 53-47 with just over 14 minutes remaining, the Bruins went on an 8-0 run to take a 55-53 advantage at the 12:39 mark.
Neither team could separate over the next 10 minutes, with the largest margin for either team being four points until Shelton scored nine-consecutive points over a two-minute span to give BU a 76-68 lead with 1:34 left in the contest.
A pair of BU free throws in the final minute made the final score, 78-68.
The Bruins will host Viterbo University on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
