Bruins stay unbeaten with 74–64 win over Providence

Box Score
Frontier Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. — Bellevue University leaned on a dominant trio and a decisive second-half push to stay perfect, defeating the University of Providence 74–64 on Saturday night in Frontier Conference play at the BU Fieldhouse. The win moved BU to 8–0, the program's best start since opening 9–0 during the 2007–08 season.

Ahamad Bynum led BU (8–0, 3–0 Frontier) with 29 points, Jaden Phillips added 9, and RJ Smith scored 11 as the Bruins earned their third league victory in as many tries. Bynum, Phillips, and Smith combined for 49 of the Bruins' 74 points, including 24 after halftime. Providence (0–9, 0–3 Frontier) was led by Marvel Chambers Jr. with 20 points and Jakub Lloyd with 13.

How It Happened

Bellevue held a 38–31 halftime lead after finishing the first half on a 10–3 surge, capped by Bynum's fourth 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining. BU extended its lead immediately after the break with a Bynum layup followed by a Phillips dunk to push the margin to 44–35.

Providence responded with a 10–2 run to trim the gap to 46–44, but BU countered with an 8–2 burst. Bynum scored twice, Phillips finished in transition, and Smith added a basket to restore an eight-point cushion. Bynum later converted a pair of drives, and Mathok Mathok finished inside to extend the lead to double digits at 58–48.

The Argos made one more push, closing within 58–54 just past the 11-minute mark, but Bellevue answered with timely scoring around the rim. Smith delivered two baskets inside, Bynum added another driving finish, and Mathok scored again to stretch the margin to 70–58 with 5:43 left. BU maintained control from there, with JJ Montgomery adding a late layup to seal the win.

Top Performers

Bellevue
• Ahamad Bynum: 29 pts, 7 reb, 4 threes
• RJ Smith: 11 pts, 5 reb, 7–9 FT
• Jaden Phillips: 9 pts (all in 2nd half), 4 reb
• Jermaine Haliburton: 8 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast
• Mathok Mathok: 8 pts, 4–6 FT, 

Providence
• Marvel Chambers Jr.: 20 pts, 4 reb
• Jakub Lloyd: 13 pts, 8 reb
• Marcus Lawson: 11 pts, 6 ast

Inside the Numbers

• BU outscored Providence 36–33 after halftime.
• The Bruins won the rebounding battle 35–30.
• Bellevue converted 14 Providence turnovers into 14 points.
• BU shot 46.3% from the field and 73.1% at the line.
• Providence shot 47.4% overall but just 3-for-18 from deep.

Up Next

Bellevue travels to Sioux Falls, S.D., for a 1 p.m. exhibition at NCAA Division II Augustana University on Sunday, Nov. 30.