MAYVILLE, N.D. -- Jemeil King strengthened his case for NSAA Player of the Year as he turned in the Bruins' first double-double of the season to lead the Bellevue University men's basketball team to a 71-56 road win at No. 22 Mayville State University on Friday evening in North Star Athletic Association action at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.
Records:
(RV) Bellevue: 18-7 (8-1 NSAA)
#22 Mayville State: 17-4 (7-2 NSAA)
Recap:
Mayville, strengthened by an enthusiastic home crowd, used an 8-0 run to grab a 10-3 lead just 5:36 into the game. Bellevue slowly chipped away and pulled within four points on a bucket from Jemeil King with 11:35 to play.
The Comets hit their first three three-point field goals in building a 22-15 lead with 8:57 to play, before the Bruins ran off 10-straight points to grab their first lead since 3-2.
After four-straight MSU free throws, Amenofis Mitchell restored the Bruins lead for good by draining a three-pointer with 3:16 remaining.
Bellevue held Mayville State without a field goal for 8:41 of the first half, as they out-scored their hosts 20-9 to close the half and take a 35-31 lead into the locker room.
Out of the intermission, Mayville was able to cut the deficit to a single point before BU ran off nine-straight points, capped by an old-fashioned three-point play from Lewis Hayes.
With 13:27 to play, Bellevue had their first double-digit lead and they did not let the Comets get any closer the rest of the way.
Niamey Harris provided the dagger by burying a three-pointer with 1:42 to play and Hayes put the exclamation point on the victory, slamming home an alley-oop toss from King on the next possession.
King recorded game-highs of 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists to move the Bruins a game up on second place Mayville. He added a blocked shot and a steal for good measure.
Joining King in double figures for the Bruins were Hayes and Jaylen Wiltz scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively. Hayes and Isaiah Bates added seven rebounds apiece for BU.
Mayville State shot a season-worst 34.6 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 17 times.
Max Cooper led the Comets with 22 points and nine rebounds. Latrelle Franklin and Jalen Valverde scored 10 points apiece with the latter dishing out five assists.
Up Next:
Bellevue travels to Aberdeen, S.D. tomorrow for a 5 p.m. tip-off against Presentation College inside the Strode Center.
