Late free throws lift Briar Cliff over BU, 72-69

Box Score

SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- After a 3-pointer by the Bruins tied the game with seven seconds remaining, Matthew Stilwill nailed three free throws with 1.7 seconds on the clock to give Briar Cliff University a 72-69 victory over Bellevue University Wednesday night in non-conference men's basketball action at the Newman Flanagan Center. 

The loss dropped the Bruins to 6-4 on the season. BCU evened their record at 5-5. 

Nigel Wilson led the Bruins with 18 points and four rebounds. Caleb Chiang added 15 points, going 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Liam Thompson was the third Bruin in double figures, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and a 3-of-3 effort from the free throw line. 

Stilwell led all players with 27 points, nine rebounds, five steals, and three assists. Jamison Helmers registered 14 points, four rebounds, and a pair of assists. 

A 3-pointer by Chiang and a short jumper by Wilson gave BU a seven-point edge at 25-18 midway through the first half. After the Chargers battled back and eventually tied the contest at 38-all, the Bruins scored the final six points of the opening period, capped by a 3-pointer from Christian Carter, to take a 44-38 lead into the intermission. 

Two free throws by Thompson helped the Bruins build their largest lead of the game at nine points (53-44) with 15:35 left in the contest. After the Chargers pulled to within two, a 6-1 BU run pushed the lead to seven points at 61-54 at the 8:37 mark. 

Helmers and Stilwell combined for all nine points in a 9-0 BCU run to put the Chargers up for the first time in the second half at 63-61 with just over 5:27 remaining. 

The two teams traded baskets over the next five minutes with a pair of free throws by Stilwell giving BCU a 69-66 lead with 19 seconds left in the contest. 

Connor Mohr drained a clutch 3-pointer to knot the contest at 69-all with seven ticks on the clock, but Stilwell was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 1.7 seconds remaining, setting up his game-clinching three free throws, giving BCU the three-point victory.  

The Bruins will begin conference action next Friday, Dec. 13, when they host Mayville State University at 7:30 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.