BELLEVUE, Neb. -- For the second-straight night, junior guard Nick Hilton led the Bruin offense as the 21st-ranked Bellevue University men's basketball team pulled away for a 79-60 victory over the University of Jamestown Saturday night at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The Bruins, who maintained a one-game lead in the conference standings, improved to 19-8 on the season and 11-3 in the NSAA. Jamestown fell to 15-13 overall and 9-5 in league play.
Hilton led BU with 25 points, five assists, and two steals. He was 7-of-11 from behind the 3-point arc. Jaffery Stillman recorded his team-leading sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Jerred Cook and BJ Shelton poured in 11 points apiece. Mike Cardenas was the fifth Bruin in double figures, finishing with 10 points, to go along with seven rebounds.
Jon Purintun led the Jimmies with 23 points and five rebounds.
The Bruins, who trailed for the first 10 minutes of the game, used an 8-0 run to grab a 23-17 lead with 9:13 left before halftime. The Jimmies responded with nine-straight points over the next three minutes to take back the lead at 26-23. Bellevue, however, closed the half on a 15-9 run to take a 38-35 halftime advantage.
Hilton led BU in the opening half with 11 points, including three 3-pointers. Purintun led the Jimmies with 13 points and three rebounds.
After the Bruins scored the first four points of the second half, the Jimmies tied the game at 44-44 following a 9-2 run. Bellevue countered with six-straight points and a 3-pointer by Cook gave BU a 10-point lead at 60-50 with 9:33 remaining in the game.
Sparked by eight-straight points from Hilton, the Bruins pulled away in the final minutes before cruising to the 19-point victory.
The Bruins travel to Madison, S.D. next Friday, Feb. 17 for a 7:30 p.m. NSAA contest at Dakota State University.
