BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Behind Jemeil King's game-high 31 points, the Bellevue University men's basketball team clinched the North Star Athletic Association regular-season title on Monday night with an 84-74 victory over 22nd-ranked Mayville State University at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. It marked the 11th-straight season the Bruins have at least won a share of the conference regular-season title.
The Bruins improved to 22-7 on the season with the win and 12-1 in the NSAA. MSU fell to 20-5 overall and 10-3 in league play. BU now owns a two-game lead in the league standings with one game remaining in the regular season.
King was 14-of-20 from the field and he added three steals and two assists in the victory. Isaiah Bates registered 15 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Lewis Hayes finished with 10 points, five rebounds, two steals, and a pair of assists.
The Comets were paced by Max Cooper's double-double (15 points, 13 rebounds). Jalen Valverde contributed with 14 points and five rebounds. Rene Melendez and Latrelle Franklin both finished with 13 points.
A nine-point BU run capped by a 3-pointer from Connor Dukes gave the Bruins an early 16-10 lead with 14:19 left in the first half.
The Bruins used a 22-13 run to close the half, taking a 46-35 lead into the intermission.
King led the Bruins in the opening half with 14 points and two rebounds. Cooper paced the Comets with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Bellevue hit 6-of-8 shots from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes of play as BU outshot the Comets, 58 to 51 percent from the field.
The Comets scored the first five points of the second half to cut the deficit to six points (46-40) at the 18-minute mark. The Bruins responded with a 10-3 run over the next three minutes highlighted by a dynamic dunk from Niamey Harris, giving BU a 56-43 advantage.
After a 15-foot jumper by King gave BU its largest lead of the game at 70-55, the Comets countered with five-straight points to pull to within 10 at 70-60 with 5:49 left in the game.
A 16-9 MSU run cut the BU lead to single digits at 79-71 with 1:49 remaining.
Every time the Comets mounted a threat, King responded with a clutch basket as BU secured the 84-74 conference-clinching victory.
Bellevue will host Dakota State University on Friday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m., on Senior Night at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
