BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Justin Motley recorded a double-double to lead four Bruins in double figures as the Bellevue University men's basketball team opened the season with a 92-58 victory over Bacone College on Friday evening in the Chick-fil-A Classic.
BU set the tone early, opening the game on a 9-0 run capped by a blocked three-pointer from Justin Motley that saw the big man collect his own rebound and throw down an emphatic breakaway dunk to draw a timeout.
After Paulo Araujo reestablished a double-figure lead at 18-8 by hitting the first of two free throws, Bellevue led by at least 10 the rest of the game.
Peyton Golightly scored a layup with 4:12 left to cut the Warrior deficit to 10, 34-24, but Vinny Belcaster answered with a three-pointer to kick off a 14-4 Bruin run to end the half.
Bacone and Bellevue traded blows early in the second half but the Bruin defense limited the Warriors to 35.7% shooting in the period and forced nine second half turnovers.
The lead grew to as many as 39 before a 5-0 mini-spurt by Bacone ended the game.
Motley's 16 points and 11 rebounds both led the way for Bellevue. Keenami Maggard scored 15 points and hauled in seven boards off the bench for the Bruins. Joining Raphael Allen scored 14 while sinking four threes and Vinny Belcaster scored 12 points and dished out four assists.
Golightly scored 17 and pulled down six boards for Bacone while Malik Norflett scored 11 and dished out a pair of assists in the loss.
Bellevue shot 51.6% for the game, 10-of-29 from three, and out-rebounded Bacone 41-30.
Bellevue returns to action at 7 p.m. tomorrow when the close out play in the Chick-fil-A Classic by hosting Iowa Wesleyan, who defeated Dickinson State University 76-62 earlier in the day.
