BELLEVUE, Neb. -- A dominant second half propelled the University of Jamestown to a 71-58 victory over Bellevue University in North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action Saturday evening at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The loss dropped the Bruins to 12-9 overall and 4-4 in NSAA play, while the Jimmies improved to 12-10 on the season and 7-2 in the league.
Key Performers
- Bruins: Willie Williams led the Bruins with nine points in just six minutes of action. Emarr Vinson contributed eight points and four rebounds, while TJ Fritz, Christian Carter, and Raphael Allen each added seven points.
- Jimmies: Silas Bennion poured in a game-high 23 points with three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Will Cordes chipped in 17 points.
Game Recap
The Jimmies surged ahead early, using back-to-back 3-pointers by Anthony Walters and Ayden Stainbrook during a 13-0 run to take an 18-6 lead midway through the first half. Bellevue responded with an 11-point burst, highlighted by three consecutive 3-pointers, to grab a 22-21 lead at the 2:56 mark. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, and Jamestown entered halftime clinging to a 25-24 advantage.
Eight Bruins contributed in the first half, with JJ Montgomery pacing the team with five points on perfect shooting (2-of-2). Bennion led the Jimmies with nine points and two steals. Both offenses struggled in the opening period, with Bellevue shooting 37 percent compared to UJ's 29 percent.
Jamestown took control after the break, opening the second half with an 11-2 run to build a 40-31 lead with 14:25 remaining. A 3-point play by Caleb Chiang momentarily trimmed the deficit to seven, but the Jimmies answered with six straight points, pushing their advantage to 50-37 at the 9:33 mark.
The Jimmies extended their lead with an 11-4 run, punctuated by a Cordes 3-pointer, to go up by 19 points (63-44) with six minutes left. Despite a late effort by Bellevue, including four points from Williams in the final minute, Jamestown held firm to close out the game with the 13-point victory.
Up Next
The Bruins will hit the road for Valley City, N.D., next Friday, Jan. 31, for a 7:30 p.m. conference clash with Valley City State University.
