VALLEY CITY – Vinny Belcaster made two clutch free throws with 6 seconds remaining, and Joshua Kelly's 3-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark as Bellevue University survived a second-half charge by the Valley City State men's basketball team during a 73-70 Bruin victory.
After trailing 65-52 with 6:51 remaining, the Vikings rallied back to within one point with an 18-6 run down the stretch. Jalen Addison's lay-up with eight seconds remaining cut VCSU's deficit to 71-70. After VCSU fouled for possession, Belcaster sank both free throws for the Bruins to make it a 73-70 lead. The Vikings quickly raced up the floor but Kelly's game-tying attempt from 3-point range was no good at the buzzer.
Valley City State drops to 10-6 overall and 1-2 in the North Star Athletic Association. Bellevue University improves to 10-8 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
The Bruins jumped out to 11-4 and 20-13 advantages early in the first half. A quick 7-0 Viking run – capped by 5 straight points from Kevin Schramm – tied the game at 20-20 with 6:47 left in the first half. The Bruins answered with 10 straight points of their own – including seven by Taylor Pomeroy – en route to a 35-24 halftime lead. The teams traded second-half runs with the Vikings pulling to within six points before Bellevue established it's largest lead of the game at 65-52 on Jerome Bynum's basket with 6:51 remaining.
A 3-point play by Schramm pulled the Vikings to within 70-66 with 2:15 remaining. The Vikings had three scoreless possessions before Eddie Oyet's free throws with 34 seconds left made it 70-68. Belcaster went 1-for-2 at the line on Bellevue's next possession, and Addison's driving layup trimmed the deficit to one point before Belcaster's clutch free throws with 6 seconds to go.
Four different Vikings scored in double figures, led by 15 points and six rebounds from Schramm. Addison added 14 points, while both Oyet and Uhana Ochan put in 12 points. Chris Thompson had seven points and a team-high four assists.
Bellevue was led by 18 points off the bench by Pomeroy. Bynum scored 14 points off the bench and Eric Pierce had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
The Vikings shot 42 percent overall (29-69), 30 percent on 3's (6-20) and 67 percent at the line (6-9). The Bruins finished the game shooting 51 percent overall (27-53), 41 percent on 3's (7-17) and 63 percent on free throws (12-19).
VCSU turned the ball over just eight times while forcing 17 Bellevue turnovers. The Vikings scored 24 points off those turnovers, including 20 points in the second half. Kelly finished with three steals for VCSU.
Bellevue held a 37-26 rebounding advantage and a 39-26 edge in bench scoring.
Up next: Valley City State goes on the road for conference games at Viterbo University and Waldorf University next weekend. Bellevue hosts Presentation College and Mayville State next weekend.
