BELLEVUE, Neb. — In a game that featured 12 ties and nine lead changes and neither team leading by more than eight points, Mayville State University battled back from a late seven-point deficit to record a 75-72 overtime victory over the Bellevue University men’s basketball team Friday night in North Star Athletic Association action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The loss dropped the Bruins to 14-10 on the season and 6-4 in the NSAA. MSU remained atop the NSAA standings, improving to 18-5 overall and 8-2 in league play.
Taylor Pomeroy led the Bruins with 17 points and six rebounds. He was 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Vinny Belcaster added 16 points, six boards, and three assists. Justin Motley recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Paulo Araujo was the fourth Bruin in double figures, finishing with 11 points, along with five rebounds and four assists.
Thomas Gieske paced the Comets with 22 points and four rebounds. Sebastian Griffin added 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Colby Dillenbeck finished with 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field.
Neither team could establish control in the first half, with the largest lead for either team being four points.
The first half featured seven ties and seven lead changes as BU took a slim 32-31 lead into the intermission.
Araujo led BU in the opening half with seven points and two rebounds. Pomeroy and Motley added six points apiece.
Dillenbeck paced the Comets in the first half with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field.
The Bruins used an 11-0 run capped by five-straight points from Pomeroy to grab a 48-40 lead with 11:56 left in the contest.
The Comets battled back with an 8-2 run to pull to within two points at 50-48 at the 8:28 mark.
A deep 3-pointer by Pomeroy pushed the BU advantage to seven points at 55-48 with six minutes remaining.
MSU used a 5-0 run to tie the contest at 60-all with 1:44 left in regulation. The two teams traded a pair of layups to keep the score knotted at 64 apiece with 25 seconds left and the Bruins in possession of the ball.
Belcaster’s 10-foot jumper was off the mark, setting up the overtime period.
The Comets scored the first five points of overtime before Belcaster scored four straight to make it a one-point game at 69-68 midway through the extra period.
After a 3-pointer by Griffin made it a five-point contest, BU countered with a triple by Araujo to make it 74-72 with 42 seconds left in overtime.
Araujo’s 3-pointer was off the mark with five seconds remaining, and Canahuate made 1-of-2 free throws setting up one lost desperation shot as Belcaster’s halfcourt attempt hit off the rim to give the Comets the 75-72 win.
The Bruins will host Presentation College tomorrow night at 5 p.m. in the final regular-season home game of the season. BU’s four seniors: Paulo Araujo, Martis Johnson, Justin Motley, and Taylor Pomeroy, will be honored prior to the contest.
