WATERTOWN, S.D. - With one minute and 46 seconds left in a North Star Athletic Association semifinal game, No. 1 Bellevue University (Neb.) led the No. 4 Dickinson State men’s basketball team 57-56.
The Blue Hawks couldn’t score down the stretch though, so the Bruins came away with the 63-56 victory on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Watertown Civic Arena (S.D.).
At the half, the Bruins held a significant 43-27 lead, but the Blue Hawks scored 10 straight to close the gap to 45-42 with 13:22 left to play. With 9:20 left, a basket from junior guard Kenny Jackson tied the contest at 48, but Bellevue pulled away again.
A pair of free throws from Jackson put the Blue Hawks within one, 57-56, but in the next three Dickinson State possessions, Jackson turned the ball over twice and missed a field goal. Meanwhile, the Bruins used foul shots to seal the win.
Junior forward Justin Bessard led all players with 19 points, while adding seven rebounds.
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Jackson, who was named the NSAA Newcomer Player of the Year, and a First-Team All Conference player, paced the Blue Hawks with 18 points. Senior forward Melvin Collins followed with 16 points while earning a team-high seven rebounds.
Senior forward/guard Austin Payne, who was named the Defensive Player of the Year, came away with two steals and his team’s sole block.
Results SaturdayNo. 1 Bellevue University (Neb.) 63, No. 4 Dickinson State 56DSU (14-13): Kenny Jackson 18, Melvin Collins 16, Donte Walker 10, Travon Hamilton 5, Malcohm Hill 5, Michael Vandall 2. BU (19-14): Justin Bessard 19, Sequan Walker 13, Jaron Dickson 9.Halftime: BU 43, DSU 27. Total fouls: DSU 25, BU 23. Technical fouls: DSU, Kenny Jackson. Fouled out: DSU, Walker. BU, Connor Dukes. 3-point goals: DSU 3-13 (Walker 2-4), BU 6-20 (Walker, Dukes 2-4). Rebounds: DSU 32 (Collins 7), BU 37 (Walker 10). Assists: DSU 5 (Jackson, Collins, Walker, Payne, Hamilton), BU 11 (Walker 3). Steals: DSU 6 (Payne, Hill 2), BU 2 (Walker 1). Blocks: DSU 1 (Payne), BU 4 (Josh Meier 2). Turnovers: DSU 12, BU 16.
