MADISON, S.D. -- The Bellevue University men's basketball team held Dakota State University 31 points below their season scoring average as the Bruins earned a 64-47 victory Saturday night in NSAA action at the DSU Memorial Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 10-6 on the season and 2-1 in the NSAA. DSU fell to 7-8 overall and 0-3 in league play.
The Bellevue defense held the Trojans to 36.7 percent shooting from the field, including a 27.3 percent effort from long range.
Nigel Wilson led the Bruins with 14 points, five rebounds, and a blocked shot. He was 5-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Emarr Vinson added 13 points, four rebounds, and a pair of assists. RJ Smith registered 10 points, four assists, and two rebounds.
Lane Tietz paced DSU with 13 points and four boards. He was the lone Trojan in double figures.
After the Trojans raced out to an early 10-2 lead, the Bruins battled back with a 15-6 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Connor Mohr, as BU took a 17-16 lead midway through the opening period.
Bellevue increased the margin to nine points (29-20) following a 10-0 scoring burst as DSU was held scoreless for four-and-a-half minutes.
The two teams traded four-point runs to end the half, as BU took a 33-24 lead into the intermission.
Wilson led BU in the opening half with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field. Mohr and Smith added six points apiece.
Tietz paced the Trojans with six points and three rebounds in the first period.
Bellevue out-shot DSU 59.1 to 37.0 percent in the opening 20 minutes of play.
The two squads traded baskets for the first eight minutes of the second half until an 8-0 BU surge capped by six straight points from Vinson gave the Bruins a 52-36 edge with 9:24 left in the contest. Four straight points from Wilson made it 59-41 at the 5:24 mark.
The Trojans never got closer than 16 points for the remainder of the contest. as BU cruised to the 64-47 victory.
The Bruins will travel to Jamestown, N.D., next Friday, Jan. 10, for a 7:30 p.m. NSAA contest at the University of Jamestown.
