Bruins force OT before falling to Dakota State

MADISON, S.D. -- Jaffrey Stillman poured in 24 points and hauled down 19 rebounds – both career-highs – for his team-leading seventh double-double of the season, but it wasn't enough to lead the No.  21 Bellevue University men's basketball team past hot-shooting Dakota State University. The host Trojans picked up an 84-77 overtime win over BU on Friday evening in a North Star Athletic Association game at DSU Memorial Fieldhouse.

With the loss, BU sees their overall record drop to 19-9 while their mark in NSAA play falls to 11-4. Dakota State, meanwhile, sees their record improve to 15-14 overall and 8-7 in league play.

The Trojans took a five-point, 39-34, lead into halftime behind 17 first half points from Kyle Kilgore and 12 more from Tanner Heiser. Jalen Hall and Jaffrey Stillman combined for 15 first half points for the Bruins who had eight different players find their way onto the score sheet in the game's opening 20 minutes.

In the second half, BU trailed by as many as 15 points but cut that deficit to just three, 71-68, when Jaffrey Stillman registered an old-fashioned three-point play on a put back off a missed three with just 1:05 to go.

Kevin Daniels hit one of two free throws with 26 seconds left to make it a two possession game before a BJ Shelton lay-in at the other end cut the DaSU lead to 72-70 with 20 seconds to play.

Jalen Hall stripped Heiser on the ensuing possession and made a game-tying lay-up with just seven seconds left. Dakota State had a chance to win but Heiser had his shot blocked by Stillman who collected the carom to help the game head to overtime tied at 72-72.

Dakota State scored the first four points of the extra period to grab the early advantage. A basket from Stillman and a three-pointer from Jerred Cook gave Bellevue a brief 77-76 lead with 2:17 to play. From there the Trojans scored the game's final eight points to secure the victory.

Kilgore finished with a Trojan-best 28 points while Heiser added 20 of his own. Daniels joined those two in double figures with 14 points of his own.

For the game Bellevue dominated the boards, finishing with a 44-34 advantage on the glass, including a 16-5 edge in offensive rebounds leading to a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points. None of that was enough as Dakota State out-shot BU 52.5 percent (31-59) to 38.2 percent (26-68) on the evening.

In addition to Stillman's 24 points, Shelton (16) and Hall (12) both reached double digits for Bellevue. The 19 rebounds by Stillman are the most by a Bruin this season.

Bellevue wraps up their regular season slate tomorrow at 5 p.m. with a game in Forest City, Iowa against Waldorf University. Dickinson State's loss on Friday evening assured BU at least a share of their eight-straight conference regular-season championship. A victory tomorrow against Waldorf would guarantee the Bruins the outright regular-season conference championship.