MAYVILLE, ND – The (RV) Bellevue Bruins invaded Mayville State University and the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse Friday night, looking to defeat the 22^nd ranked Comets in a North Star Athletic Association tilt. The upset-minded Bruins were able to outlast the Comet men, defeating the Comets 71-56 in action Friday.
"Hats off to Bellevue," Comets head coach Darren Tighe said. "They played better on both sides of the ball tonight."
Max Cooper got the Comets off to a hot start, however, as he drained all four of Mayville State's opening points, giving the Comets the early 4-3 lead.
Rene Melendez pushed the lead to seven points, on back-to-back three pointers on possessions that were separated by a missed two-point opportunity for the Bruins. They did, however, make good on the possession that followed Melendez's second three-pointer, as Jemeil King sent home a shot that pulled the Bruins to within five points.
Seven seconds later, none other than Latrelle Franklin drained a three-pointer, and it was back to a seven-point contest.
Mayville State steadily held the lead, until under five minutes left, when King picked up a Lewis Hayes pass, jamming it home for a 23-22 Bellevue lead.
The Comets trailed the rest of the first half, although they brought it to within one point several times throughout the final minutes of the half.
Jalen Valverde started out the second half with a missed bunny, but made good seconds later on a three-pointer, set up by Franklin. The score, at the time, was 35-34 in favor of Bellevue.
King extended the lead to three, but Cooper pulled it to within one seconds later, a sign of what was to come for both teams—or so it seemed.
A 13-2 run by Bellevue increased the lead to 50-38 with just under 12 minutes to go, but Franklin did as Franklin does—pulling up for a bucket and bringing the game to within 10 points with well over 11 minutes to go.
Franklin again drew the Comets to within 10 points, with 11:44 to go in the game, but it was met by another King basket, extending the lead to 12 points. In fact, King eventually extended the lead to 14 points, with 9:21 to go in the contest.
Later, with just over five minutes left, Franklin pulled the Comets to within single digits, ahead 57-48, but superb free-throw shooting by Bellevue sealed the win for the Bruins.
Mayville State was led by three in double figures—Cooper finished with 22, while Valverde and Franklin each finished with 10.
Mayville State drops to 7-2 in conference play, and 17-4 overall.
The Comets will host Dakota State on Saturday at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.
"I believe in our guys," Tighe said. "We will bounce back and play better tomorrow."