MADISON, S.D. -- Lewis Hayes and Connor Dukes scored 15 points apiece and BU withstood a late DSU charge, as the Bellevue University men's basketball team recorded a 67-63 victory at Dakota State University Saturday night in the North Star Athletic Association opener for both teams at the DSU Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 7-5 on the season and 1-0 in the NSAA. The Trojans fell to 3-9 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Hayes was 7-of-10 from the field while adding a game-high eight rebounds. Dukes hit 5-of-6 shots including going 2-of-3 from behind the arc.
Niamey Harris added 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Jemeil King was the fourth Bruin in double figures, finishing with 10 points while adding three rebounds and a pair of assists.
Gare Ewefada and Josh McGreal led the Trojans with 14 points apiece.
BU out-rebounded DSU, 34-25 and the Trojans were plagued by an 11-of-20 performance from the charity stripe.
After trailing 6-2 in the early going, the Bruins went on a 10-0 run to take a 12-6 advantage with 14 minutes left in the first half. DSU got as close as a single point in the opening half, before the Bruins pulled away with a 13-point (34-21) halftime lead, capped by a short jumper by Jaron Dickson at the buzzer.
The Trojans battled to within four points, opening the second half on a 16-7 run to pull to within four points at 41-37 with 13:25 remaining in the game. DSU made it a one-point game at 43-42 following a 10-foot jumper by Gare Ewefada at the 11-minute mark.
A 3-pointer by Jaylen Wiltz gave BU a 52-46 advantage, forcing a Trojan timeout with 6:33 left in the contest.
After a free throw by Hayes made it a nine-point contest (56-47), the Trojans went on a six-point run to pull to within three points at 56-53 with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
After the two teams traded buckets and turnovers, Harris nailed a pair of free throws to expand the lead back to five points, before Ewefada drilled a deep 3-pointer to draw the Trojans to within two points at 60-58 with just under 30 ticks left on the clock.
Harris hit two more free throws and DSU responded with a 3-pointer from Brady Van Holland to make it 62-61 with 20 seconds remaining.
Dickson hit one-of-two free throws to make it a two-point contest. A steal by Wiltz on the ensuing play and two more free throws by King gave BU a 65-61 advantage with 13 seconds left.
After a layup by Ewefada, Dukes was fouled and he drained a pair of free throws to make the final, 67-63.
The Bruins will travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Dec. 16-17 where they will compete in the Puerto Rico Clasico. BU will take on Politecnica (P.R.) on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. and Sacred Heart (P.R.) on Dec. 17, also at 6 p.m.
