FREMONT, Neb. -- Despite a 50-point effort from Midland University's Malik Martin, the Bellevue University men's basketball team battled to a 90-88 victory over the Warriors on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Draemel Classic played at the Wikert Event Center.
The win snapped a four-game losing skid for the Bruins, who improved to 4-7 on the season. The Warriors fell to 4-5 overall with the loss.
Josh Lindsey-Hunter (25) and Sequan Walker (23) combined for 48 points to lead the BU offense. Lindsey-Hunter nailed 7-of-8 3-pointers, while Walker added four assists and three rebounds in the victory.
Jaron Dickson was the third Bruin in double figures, finishing with 11 points to go along with three boards.
Midland shot 63.8 percent from the field and Martin, a freshman, was 20-of-23 from the field and 8-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc. Martin's 50 points were the second most in MU history while his 20 field goals set a program record.
A free throw by Lindsey-Hunter capped a 16-7 BU run to give the Bruins a double-digit lead at 36-26 with 4:46 remaining in the first half. The Warriors responded by closing the half on a 12-7 spurt as Martin's layup just before intermission pulled MU to within five points at 43-38 at halftime.
Lindsey-Hunter paced the Bruins in the first half with 13 points and four 3-pointers. Walker added 12 points and two triples as BU connected on 8-of-14 3-pointers in the opening half.
Martin had 24 points at the break, going 10-of-11 from the field, including a 4-of-4 effort in 3-point attempts.
The Bruins maintained a five-point advantage early in the second half until consecutive jumpers by Martin sparked a 9-3 MU run, giving the Warriors their first lead of the second half at 53-52 with just under 15 minutes remaining in the contest.
MU led by as many as six points at 61-55 following a jumper by Dillon Faubel at the 11:47 mark, before the Bruins battled back with an 8-2 run highlighted by 3-pointers from Lindsey-Hunter and Walker, tying the contest at 63-all midway through the period.
The two teams traded baskets over the next eight minutes as the score was tied at 79-79 at the 2:25 mark. After a Bryce Parson's free throw gave the Warriors an 80-79 advantage, the Bruins scored eight-straight points and held off a late MU rally which saw Martin drill a pair of 3-pointers in the final nine seconds, before BU secured the 90-88 victory.
The Bruins open up conference play next Saturday, Dec. 1, when they host Dakota State at 5 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
