Career night from Reed propels Bruins past Jamestown

NSAA Standings
Box Score

JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- Richard Reed scored a career-high 24 points, including sinking a pair of free throws that proved to be the game-winning points with 2:19 to play, to lift the (RV) Bellevue University men's basketball team to a 76-73 win over #23 University of Jamestown on Friday night in North Star Athletic Association action at Newman Arena.

Bellevue (17-10, 9-5 NSAA) has now won three-straight games while Jamestown (19-8, 8-6 NSAA) saw their four-game win streak halted. With the win the Bruins move into sole possession of first place, a game ahead of both the Jimmies and Dickinson State, in the North Star standings.

BU found themselves in a seven-point hole with 9:06 to play in the first half after a basket from Leighton Sampson put Jamestown up 23-16. The Bruins made their move a short time later as Austin Moore keyed a 9-0 BU run in a span of just 1:43 with a pair of free throws.

Jamestown led 28-27 after a Christian Kvilvang three-pointer but BU out-scored the Jimmies 11-3 over the final 4:21 of the first half to take a 38-31 lead into halftime.

The Bruins led throughout much of the second half, pushing their lead to as many as 13 points when a trey by Brian Stokes with 11:41 to go put BU up 60-47.

Jamestown got as close as a single point on multiple occasions in the final 2:34 but they were unable to overcome their guests. Up 74-73, Nick Hilton sank a free throw with 1:28 to play and had a chance to push the lead to three but was called for a lane violation on the second attempt.

A turnover by Jon Purintun gave the ball back to BU with 1:00 to go but Reed was whistled for an offensive foul with 42 seconds on the clock that gave the ball back to Jamestown. Purintun missed a three that was rebounded by Jalen Hall. Following a foul Connor Dukes hit one of two free throws to put BU up 76-73 with 11 seconds left. Kevin Oberweiser missed a three-pointer at the buzzer which would have tied the game.

Reed led the way with 24 points and Blake Wilder was the only other Bruin to score in double-figures finishing with 10 on 4-of-4 shooting. Nick Hilton (9), BJ Shelton (8), Connor Dukes (7), and Brandon Fagins (6) combined for 30 points with Fagins hauling in a game-best nine rebounds.

Jon Purintun paced the Jimmies with 25 points and five assists. Leighton Sampson went for 19 and Kevin Oberweiser dropped in 15 for the home side. Sam Johnson added nine and a team-best seven boards.

Bellevue has the opportunity to clinch at least a share of the NSAA Regular-Season title tomorrow when they take on (RV) Mayville State at 5 p.m. in Mayville, N.D.