FOREST CITY, Iowa -- Behind a fast start the Bellevue University men's basketball team rolled past Waldorf University 75-49 in a North Star Athletic Association contest on Friday evening at Hanson Fieldhouse.
Records:
Bellevue: 13-11 (7-1 NSAA)
Waldorf: 5-16 (1-7 NSAA)
Recap: Bellevue 75, Waldorf 49
Bellevue raced out to an early 18-4 lead and never looked back as the Bruins picked up a 75-49 win at Waldorf.
Hanson Fieldhouse had been a house of horrors for the Bruins prior to Friday evening. Bellevue was 0-6 all-time in Forest City which included a pair of two-point losses in addition to a pair of losses in games decided in overtime.
BU started the game in dominating fashion, scoring the first seven points capped by an emphatic transition dunk by Connor Dukes. The Bruins stretched their lead to 15-2 on a pair of free throws from Josh Meier at the 12:51 mark.
Waldorf was unable to get the game within single digits for the remainder of the half.
The Bruins led by as many as 19 points late in the half on a trifecta by Sequan Walker with just 1:42 to go.
At halftime, Bellevue took a 34-17 lead into the locker room. The Bruins won the turnover battle in the first half, 8-1, and turned that into a 7-2 advantage at the other end. BU also held a 7-2 edge on the offensive glass as well as in second chance points.
BU shot 44.8 percent from the floor, edging Waldorf who hit on 42.1 percent of their shots but attempted just 19 field goals, 10 fewer than the Bruins.
Walker led the Bruins with eight points in the opening 20 minutes. Justin Bessard and Stephen Matthew each scored six and Dukes added five. Jaron Dickson paced the Bruins on the glass with five boards as Bellevue out-rebounded Waldorf 17-10 in the first half.
Demetrious Martin countered with eight points to lead Waldorf.
It took just 3:50 for Bellevue to push their lead to 20 points, after allowing Waldorf to score five of the first seven points of the period the Bruins rattled off nine-straight in a span of just 1:29 to go up 45-22.
From there the Warriors countered with an 8-0 run but that only managed to cut the deficit to 15 points.
Bellevue again pushed the lead to 20 points on a three-point play from Jaron Dickson and Waldorf was never able to get closer than 16 the remainder of the night.
Dickson and Bessard shared team-high scoring honors with 14 apiece for the Bruins. Walker added 10 while Dukes and Stephen Mathews chipped in eight apiece. Bessard led the way with six rebounds and Dickson finished with five.
Demetrious Martin finished with 15 to lead all scorers for Waldorf. Brady Kuchinka tossed in 11 and Brian Smith added nine for the Warriors.
Up Next:
Bellevue is back in action tomorrow afternoon as they take on the V-Hawks of Viterbo University at 5 p.m. from R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium in La Crosse, Wis.
