BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Juniors Nigel Wilson (20) and TJ Fritz (16) combined for 36 points to lead the Bellevue University men's basketball team to a 75-57 victory over York University Tuesday night in non-conference action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 4-8 on the season. York fell to 4-8 overall.
Wilson led the Bruins with 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. He added seven boards and two blocks in the win. Fritz finished with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Jaden Phillips collected nine points, six rebounds, and three steals as BU forced 21 Panther turnovers.
Cam Clardy was the lone Panther in double figures, finishing with 16 points along with five rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.
The Panthers committed 11 early turnovers and hit just 2-of-12 shots to open the game as BU built an early 16-5 advantage in the first ten minutes of the contest.
York battled back, going on a 5-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Jade Henderson to slice the deficit to six points at 16-10 with 8:39 left in the first half.
Consecutive layups by Dwight Glover and Trevon Dennis made it a five-point game (19-14) at the 7:27 mark.
Sparked by a 3-pointer from Fritz, the Bruins answered with a seven-point run to push the margin back to double digits at 26-14 with five minutes remaining before the intermission.
The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half as BU took a 35-24 lead into the break.
Wilson led the Bruins in the first half with 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Fritz, Makeem Loudermill, and Phillips chipped in with six points apiece in the opening half.
Henderson and Glover paced the Panthers in the first period with five points each.
Fritz and Wilson combined for 12 points as BU used a 16-4 run in the first five minutes of the second half, pushing the Bruin advantage to 23 points at 51-28.
Seven straight points by Clardy reduced the deficit to 18 points at 64-46 with 8:12 left in the contest. After the Bruins responded with five straight points capped by a 3-point play from Phillips, Clardy drained four consecutive free throws as BU led 69-50 at the 3:12 mark.
After a 3-pointer by Deng Jal gave BU a 23-point cushion, the Panthers scored the game's final five points to make the final score 75-57.
The Bruins will head to Sioux City, Iowa, on Saturday, Dec. 16, where they will compete in the Arena Classic at the Tyson Event Center. Bellevue's opponent will be No. 16-ranked Morningside University beginning at 8 p.m.
