DICKINSON, N.D. -- In a tightly contested battle featuring eight ties and seven lead changes, league-leading Dickinson State University held off Bellevue University for a 74-70 victory in North Star Athletic Association action Friday night at Scott Gymnasium.
Neither team led by more than seven points throughout the game, but the Blue Hawks capitalized on key late-game free throws to secure the win. The loss dropped the Bruins to 12-15 overall and 4-10 in NSAA play, while Dickinson State, which clinched at least a share of the NSAA regular-season title, improved to 16-10 and 11-3 in conference action.
Key Performers
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Bellevue University:
- TJ Fritz led the Bruins with 17 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
- Christian Carter added 15 points and three rebounds.
- Deng Jal was just shy of a double-double, recording 10 points and nine boards.
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Dickinson State University:
- Aidan Fishell poured in a game-high 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
- Kose Egbule contributed 20 points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
- John Evans chipped in 10 points and two assists.
Game Recap
Bellevue jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, but Dickinson State responded with 12 unanswered points, as four different Blue Hawks scored in the opening five minutes. The Bruins answered with a 7-0 run, capped by a deep 3-pointer from Raphael Allen, knotting the game at 14-14 midway through the first half. The teams traded baskets the rest of the period, with neither side gaining more than a four-point edge, as Dickinson State took a narrow 32-30 advantage into halftime.
Jal led Bellevue in the opening half with eight points and three rebounds, while Allen added six points, going a perfect 2-of-2 from long range. Egbule paced Dickinson State with 13 points and four boards, while Fishell added eight points on 3-of-3 shooting.
Carter opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers, giving Bellevue a 38-36 lead just three minutes in. Dickinson State answered with consecutive three-point plays by Fishell, surging ahead 48-42, but Bellevue responded with seven straight points, capped by a Carter jumper, reclaiming the lead at 49-48.
A four-point play from Fritz erased a four-point deficit, tying the game at 55-all with 8:41 remaining. Dickinson State countered with five straight points from Cordel Stinson, but the Bruins answered once again, leveling the score at 60-60.
With the score knotted at 66-66, Fishell scored four consecutive points, and Egbule added a free throw to put Dickinson State up 71-66 with 46 seconds left. Carter kept Bellevue in the game with a jumper, cutting the deficit to three (71-68) with 38 seconds remaining. After Fishell missed the front end of a one-and-one, Carter banked in a shot to pull the Bruins within one (71-70) with 15 seconds left.
Evans drained two clutch free throws to extend Dickinson State's lead to three. Bellevue had one final chance, but RJ Smith missed the front end of a one-and-one with four seconds remaining, and Jaiden Wright iced the game at the line, securing the 74-70 victory for Dickinson State.
Up Next
The Bruins conclude the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 22, with a 5 p.m. road contest against the University of Jamestown.
