BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Paulo Araujo scored 21-straight BU points and became the first Bruin since 1990 to score at least 37 points in a game as he led the Bellevue University men's basketball team to an 84-72 North Star Athletic Association victory over Valley City State University.
Bellevue improves to 10-7 overall and 2-1 in NSAA play while Valley City slumps to 8-9 on the year and 1-2 in conference action.
The Bruins turned in a strong first half offensively as they hit on 56% of their field goal attempts, rang up six three-pointers, and recorded assists on 14 of 15 baskets. However, they committed seven turnovers allowing Valley City to keep it close and the Vikings trailed by just three, 38-35, at the half.
Bellevue strengthened their position early in the second half. After a pair of free throws from the Vikings, Bellevue scored nine of the next 13 points to push their lead to 11 points with Justin Motley tipping in an offensive rebound.
Araujo took over midway through the second half as he accounted for 21-straight Bellevue points, helping take the lead from 54-43 to 75-58. He scored 29 of his 37 in the second half.
Valley City made some tough shots late but came no closer than nine as the Bruins did enough, hitting 6-10 free throws in the final two-plus minutes to secure the win.
Keenami Maggard joined Araujo in double figures with 16 on 7-of-10 shooting, all the makes coming on dunks. Motley and Christian Carter each scored 10 apiece in the victory while Motley and Araujo shared game-high honors with nine rebounds apiece. Vinny Belcaster dished out a career-high 11 assists to lead a 23-assist effort for Bellevue on 29 made field goals.
The last Bruin, prior to Araujo, to score as many as 37 points in a game was BU Hall of Famer Derrick Helms who scored 38 against Concordia University on Feb. 28, 1990.
Tate Hebrink paced a trio of Vikings in double figures with 13. Daevonte Munson and Hunter Lyman scored 12 and 11, respectively, for Valley.
Bellevue hits the road next weekend for a pair of games at Presentation (Friday, 7:30 p.m.) and Mayville State (Saturday, 5 p.m.).
