Box Score Bellevue, NE - The Comets Men's Basketball team took on the Bellevue Bruins looking for a weekend split. Unfortunately, the Bruins pulled ahead late in the second half to win 71-64.

The Comets raced out to a 9-2 lead after four minutes, only to see Bellevue tie it up two minutes later. The game remained close until the 7:27 mark when Mayville State ripped off eight consecutive points to turn a slim 18-15 lead into a 26-15 advantage.

Darren Jones scored five of the eight points to lead the surge. The Bruins instantly responded with a 13-0 run of their own to reclaim the lead with 90 seconds left in the half. Juan Carlos Canahaute connected on a buzzer beater three pointer to give the Comets a 32-30 lead into halftime.

The second half remained virtually deadlocked, with numerous lead changes and ties. As one team clawed to a small lead, the other came back quickly to tie it up.

Jones poured in 17 points in the second half to carry the Comet offense. The Bruins struck the decisive blow with a critical 7-0 run late in the second half to lead 63-55.

Bellevue hit six of eight clutch free throws to hold off any final Mayville State comeback and won 71-64.

"We can't win road games  going 15-27 from the free throw line and giving up 14 second chance points. Outside of that I thought our guys competed hard but Bellevue made shots and got stops when they needed to and we didn't," said head coach Brandon McGruder.

Jones led all scorers with 26 points and led the Comets in rebounds with six. John White Jr. and Jamison Kramer reached double figures with 10 points apiece and Canahaute added seven assists.

The Comets record now stands at 15-6, 3-3 in the North Star. Mayville State will battle their longtime rival Valley City State at the Lewy Lee next Friday, tip off is at 7:30pm.

"This week we will need to get back to the basics. We have to shoot it better and rebound the ball. Having four home games will be nice to have and our schedule favors us to close the season so we have to capitalize," added McGruder.