Bruins share conference crown after 68-67 win over Trojans

Box Score
NSAA Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University men's basketball team earned a share of the North Star Athletic Association regular-season title with a 68-67 victory over visiting Dakota State University Friday night at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. 

With the win, the Bruins ended the regular season with a 17-12 overall record and a 9-5 league mark. DSU fell to 12-17 overall and 7-7 in conference play. 

Bellevue tied Viterbo for the league title with both teams ending the conference season at 9-5. The two teams also split their regular-season games, with each team winning on the road. 

It marked the 13th-straight year the Bruins have won either the conference regular-season or tournament title. 

Times, seeds, and pairings for next week's NSAA Tournament will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 20. 

Vinny Belcaster led the Bruins with 22 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Paulo Araujo added 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field, including a 3-of-3 effort from behind the arc. 

Isaiah Bates was the third Bruin in double figures, finishing with 10 points along with three rebounds. 

Berto Gittens led all players with 25 points along with six rebounds and a pair of assists. Jordan Lynn added 18 points, four boards, and three assists.  

The Bruins scored the first five points of the contest and established a seven-point advantage at 11-4 following consecutive baskets by Martis Johnson.

The Trojans responded with a 15-7 run to grab a 19-18 lead midway through the first half.  

DSU scored six-straight points to push the margin to seven points at 27-20 with 7:32 left in the opening period.

After a 3-pointer by Araujo drew the Bruins to within two, the Trojans countered with five-straight points to make it a seven-point contest at 32-25 with 3:27 remaining before the intermission. 

A 3-point play by Belcaster sparked a 6-2 BU run to bring the Bruins to within three points at 34-31 at the two-minute mark. 

After three-straight points from DSU, Araujo drained his second-consecutive triple to make it a three-point game at 37-34 at the break. 

Araujo led the Bruins in the opening half with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field. Johnson added nine points and Belcaster and Taylor Pomeroy chipped in with five points apiece. 

Gittens led all scorers in the first half with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including a 2-of-2 effort from behind the arc.  

After a Gittens' jumper made it a six-point contest early in the second half, the Bruins responded with a 7-0 burst to regain the lead at 44-43 with 13:25 left in the contest.  

A seven-point Trojan run gave DSU an eight-point advantage at 55-47 at the nine-minute mark.

Two-straight layups from Belcaster and a 3-point play by Araujo tied the game at 55-all with 6:26 remaining. 

Belcaster scored four points in a 6-0 BU run as the Bruins grabbed a five-point advantage at 61-56 at the four-minute mark. 

The Trojans responded with six-straight points highlighted by back-to-back buckets from Gittens to regain the lead at 62-61 with 2:30 left in the contest. 

After six-straight points from Belcaster gave the Bruins a 67-62 edge with 38 seconds remaining, Chris Morales drained a 3-pointer to make it a two-point contest at 67-65 with 19 seconds remaining. 

Araujo made 1-of-2 free throws to give the Bruins a 68-65 lead with 13 seconds left. 

A dunk by Lamarr Wood made it 68-67 with four ticks remaining in regulation. 

After Araujo was fouled on the ensuing play, he missed both free throws to give the Trojans one last chance at victory. DSU could not get a shot off as BU earned the one-point victory.