PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- Jake Klingler and Dennis Pomazanov combined for 44 points to lead Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University past the Bellevue University men's basketball team 74-65 on Saturday afternoon.
Embry-Riddle opens the year 1-0, while Bellevue slides to 0-4.
The host Eagles started hot, jumping out to a 12-3 lead as the Bruins began the game 1-for-8 from the field with a pair of turnovers before Vinny Belcaster buried a three at the 12:03 mark.
A pair of threes from Raydden Grobe and another from Belcaster pulled BU within two, 17-15, prompting an ERAU timeout with 10:02 to play.
Bellevue grabbed a 24-19 lead following a 7-0 run but Embry-Riddle responded with a 12-2 run. Jerome Bynum sank a pair of free throws at the 2:37 mark for the final points of the first half as the Bruins trailed 31-28 at the break.
Belcaster, Bynum, and Grobe each had six points at the intermission to lead the Bruins, who shot just 33% in the period and turned the ball over nine times.
Jake Klingler led the Eagles with 10 in the first half on 4-of-6 shooting, and Conner Ivy contributed six. ERAU shot 39% and took better care of the ball, committing just five turnovers in the half.
Klingler scored six of the first eight points to open the second half, and ERAU stretched the lead to 10, 42-32, with an 11-4 spurt.
The lead hovered between 5-7 points before Makeem Loudermill scored a driving layup with 11:50 to go to cut the lead to 47-44.
That was short-lived as Dennis Pomazanov and Klingler scored on consecutive fast breaks to kick off a 9-0 run for the Eagles to push the advantage back to 56-44.
Embry-Riddle kept BU at arm's length the rest of the way as the Eagles held on for a nine-point win.
Bellevue struggled offensively all game, struggling to get into their offense and shooting just 42% from the floor, though they did hit at a 41% clip from beyond the arc. Their counterparts, ERAU, shot 45% overall and 44% from deep.
Bynum finished with 12 to lead the Bruins and was joined by Loudermill and Belcaster in double figures with 11 and 10, respectively.
Klingler finished with a game-high 23 for Embry-Riddle and Pomazanov added 21 for the Eagles.
Bellevue next plays in the NWC Pizza Ranch Classic Friday-Saturday, Nov. 10-11, where BU will open against Dordt on Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. against host Northwestern.
