Shelton leads Bellevue past Dickinson State, 79-68

Box Score

NSAA Standings

DICKINSON, N.D. -- BJ Shelton scored 19 points and pulled down nine rebounds as the Bellevue University men's basketball team defeated  Dickinson State 79-68 on Friday evening at Scott Gymnasium in North Star Athletic Association action.

With the win Bellevue avenged an earlier loss to the Blue Hawks and moves to within a game of first place in the league standings. They are now 14-9 overall and 6-4 in NSAA play.  Dickinson State has now dropped back-to-back games to fall into a tie for first with Mayville State at 7-3 and dip to 11-8 overall.

The Blue Hawks opened the game on a 10-3 run in the first 3:23 before a three-pointer from Drew Apsher cut the hosts lead to 10-6 with 16:15 to play. That ignited a 17-6 BU run over the ensuing 5:37 as Bellevue took a 20-16 lead.

A Marcus White basket with 7:51 to play brought Dickinson State within three points at 25-22 but the Bruins responded by scoring the next 11 points to go up 36-22 with 4:13 to play in the first half.

Another basket by White interrupted the Bruin run as the Blue Hawks closed the first half on a 9-6 spurt but Bellevue took a 42-31 lead into the intermission.

The Bruins were led by BJ Shelton's 12 first half points while Nick Hilton added eight and Connor Dukes tossed in six. White paced Dickinson State with 10 points in the half. Ryan Clark and Jerry Shelvin added five points apiece with Shelvin dishing out four assists.

Dickinson State, using an 8-4 run, trimmed Bellevue's lead to seven points at the 16:19 mark but that would be as close as they would get in the second half. BU responded by scoring 20 of the next 28 points to seize command of the game, 66-47, with 9:17 showing on the game clock.

Bellevue cruised from there and held on for a comfortable 11-point win.

Shelton paced the Bruins with 19 points and was joined in double figures by Richard Reed (10). Jalen Hall scored nine points and Nick Hilton added eight while Dukes, Jaffery Stillman, Apsher, and Brandon Fagins each dropped in six.

Shelton and Stillman co-led the Bruins with nine rebounds apiece as Bellevue controlled the boards, finishing with a 40-33 advantage on the glass.

White led all scorers with 26 while Carter Gallo added 12 for the home side. Clark pulled down a team-best nine rebounds for DiSU.

Bellevue is back in action tomorrow evening with a 5 p.m. NSAA tip-off at Valley City State University.