BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Paulo Araujo, Vinny Belcaster, and Keenami Maggard combined for 52 points but the Bellevue University men's basketball team fell 66-62 to Midland University to close out the Bellevue Classic on Saturday afternoon.
Bellevue falls to 3-3 on the year while Midland improves to 4-2.
The game was a tightly contested affair featuring 12 lead changes and 10 times while neither team ever led by more than two possessions.
Paulo Araujo led the offensive charge early, scoring 13 of BU's first 18 points in the 9:25. His third three-pointer of the half stretched the lead 18-14.
With 3:06 remaining in the first half Liam Thompson connected on a pair of free throws to put Bellevue in front, 27-26 but the Bruins missed three shots and turned the ball over twice as Midland scored the final four points of the half to take a 30-27 lead at the break.
The game continued in back-and-forth fashion for much of the second half until Midland went ahead for good on a lay-in by Jack Cooper off the dish from Kobe Shannon.
BU closed to within a possession on numerous occasions but were unable to put a stop together with a make on the offensive end.
Bellevue trailed by just two after Keenami Maggard grabbed a miss by Vinny Belcaster and hit the first off two free throws. Dominic Humm drained a pair of free throws with eight seconds to play to push the Warrior lead to four.
Midland negated losing the turnover battle 15-10, as they connected on 53% of their field goals while Bellevue managed to shoot just 41% from the floor.
Araujo led the way with 20 points for the Bruins, adding five rebounds and four steals. Belcaster and Maggard tossed in 16 apiece with the latter grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.
Cooper led three Warriors in double figures with 14 points. Humm added 13 and six boards while Strong contributed 10 off the bench.
Bellevue next competes in the Gundersen Hotel & Suites Viterbo Invitational in La Crosse, Wis. The Bruins face Indiana Northwest at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18 before tipping off against Cardinal Stritch at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.
