ABERDEEN, S.D. -- Behind a season-high 22 points, Jaylen Wiltz led the Bellevue University men's basketball team to a 72-61 victory over Presentation College in North Star Athletic Association action Saturday night at the Strode Center.
The Bruins who never trailed in the contest, improved to 19-7 on the season and 9-1 in the NSAA, protecting their top spot in the league standings. Presentation, which dropped its 15th-straight game, fell to 3-23 overall and 0-11 in league play.
Wiltz finished 8-of-13 from the field and 3-of-5 from behind the arc while adding two rebounds and a pair of assists.
Lewis Hayes recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Jemeil King and Niamey Harris both contributed with 10 points apiece.
Elijah Coleman (18) and Nate Seyoum (17) combined for 35 points to pace the Saint offense.
The Bruins scored the first 10 points of the contest and maintained a double-digit advantage most of the first period until the Saints ended the half on a 7-2 run to slice the Bruin lead to 36-30 at the intermission.
Wiltz led BU in the opening half with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field.
The Bruins outshot PC, 46 to 42 percent in the first half while hitting 6-of-14 shots from behind the arc.
The Saints were led in the first half by Seyoum's 12 points on a 4-of-5 shooting effort.
Presentation pulled to within two points twice early in the second half before BU used a 17-4 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Connor Dukes and a layup by Hayes to take a 15-point lead at 59-44 with 8:50 left in the contest.
The Saints battled back and a 3-pointer by Andrew Woodward drew PC to within single digits at 68-59 at the 3:43 mark. PC never got closer than 10 points the remainder of the game as the Bruins secured the 74-61 victory.
The Bruins return home next Friday, Feb. 14 when they host Valley City State University beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
