ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- Despite trimming a 16-point second half deficit to just one with under three minutes to play but the Bellevue University men's basketball team was unable to complete the rally, falling 70-63 to Dordt University in the first game of the Northwestern/Pizza Ranch Classic.
Dordt improved to 5-1 with fifth-straight win while Bellevue fell to 3-3 on the season.
Eric Pierce scored 16 points, grabbed four rebounds, blocked three shots, and totaled three steals in a strong all-around performance for Bellevue. Justin Motley joined him in double figures with 14 points. Vinny Belcaster added nine points and seven rebounds while Martis Johnson chipped in eight points and four boards.
Luke Rankin led four Defenders in double figures with 19 points and dished out four assists. Bryce Coppock (16), Jacob Vis (13), and Cade Bleeker (10) join Ranking in double figures as Dordt received 62 of their 70 points from their starting five.
The first half was back and forth until Dordt manufactured a 22-8 run to turn around a 14-12 deficit into a 34-22 advantage over the final 10:46 of the first half.
Bellevue shot just 28.6 percent (8-28) in the opening half before heating up to 64.3 percent in the second half.
Dordt extended their lead early in the second half, opening the period on a 6-2 mini-run to grab a 40-25 lead with just over two minutes played.
The lead crept to a game-high 16 points with 11:41 remaining on a Bruin turnover that turned into a fast-break layup by Rankin.
BU immediately responded with a bucket from Belcaster and the Bruins clamped down on defense. Belcaster's lay-up sparked a 14-3 run over the next 4:37 that saw Bellevue pull to within five points.
After a pair of free throws by Bleeker, Bellevue turned in defensive stops on two of the next three possessions to creep within two points.
Camden Bialas hit the second of two free throws with 3:12 to play and after a an empty possession from each side, Belcaster converted a layup to pull the Bruins within a single point. However, Dordt closed the game on a 9-3 run in which the Bruins did not record another field goal until the final buzzer.
The Bruins face off with the host Red Raiders (4-0) tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the final game for both teams at the Northwestern/Pizza Ranch Classic.
