VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – Bellevue guard Richard Reed drove the length of the court in 3.7 seconds Sunday as he scored the game-winning basket at the buzzer to stun Valley City State University.
Viking sophomore Logan Nelson had just drained a game-tying 3-pointer from the right wing, sending the Viking crowd into a frenzy and evening the score at 65-65. Out of a timeout, Reed took the inbounds pass and sprinted the length of the court, scoring a full-speed layup from the right block as time expired.
Valley City State University drops to 4-12 overall and 1-4 in the NSAA. The Vikings lost their two conference games this weekend by a combined four points. Bellevue improves to 10-11 overall and 4-1 in the NSAA. The Bruins are currently tied with Presentation College atop the NSAA standings.
A back-and-forth first half on Sunday featured four ties and eight lead changes. Bellevue led by as many as eight points midway through the half before VCSU battled back. The Vikings scored the last five points of the half – including a 3-pointer by Christian Kvilvang with 3 seconds remaining – to take a 30-27 lead into the locker room. Both teams made five 3-pointers in the first half.
Bellevue’s Sequan Walker and VCSU’s Logan Nelson went shot-for-shot early in the second half as both teams came out firing. Walker and Nelson scored seven points each in the first three minutes, after which the Vikings maintained their lead at 40-36.
Bellevue used a 12-4 run midway through the second half to take its biggest lead of the game. Richard Reed’s 3-pointer with 9:07 to go made it 56-48 in favor of the Bruins. The Vikings did not fold though, battling back down the stretch. A 3-point play by Michael Cornelious inside cut the deficit to 59-55 with 5:39 to go. Nelson drained a 3-pointer with 2:09 remaining to pull VCSU within 61-60. Bellevue’s Jaron Dickson answered on the other end, but Nelson responded with a jumper to make it 63-62 in favor of Bellevue.
VCSU’s defense prevented Bellevue from scoring on the next possession, giving the Vikings a chance at the lead in the final minute. Bellevue’s defense answered by blocking Morgan’s shot attempt out of bounds and forcing the Vikings into a long 3-point attempt as the shot clock expired. Walker went to the line on the other end and sank two free throws with 16 seconds remaining to go ahead 65-62. Out of a timeout, Nelson received the ball on the right wing, dribbled and a drained a pull-up 3 to tie the game at 65-65 with 3.7 seconds left. Overtime was not in the cards though as Reed delivered the game-winner for Bellevue.
Nelson made four 3-pointers and finished with 22 points to lead the Viking offense, including 17 points in the second half. Nelson scored VCSU’s final eight points, and he and Cornelious combined to score the final 13 for the Vikings. Cornelious finished with 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. Jake Skelly made three 3-pointers as he finished with nine points and four assists. Chris Morgan added nine points and three assists in the middle.
Walker led the Bruins with 15 points, including 12 in the second half. Reed added 11 points and three steals. Stephen Matthews and Justin Bessard each scored nine for the Bruins.
VCSU shot 50 percent overall (25-50), 45 percent from 3-point range (10-22) and 71 percent at the line (5-7). Bellevue finished at 48 percent overall (24-50), 50 percent on 3’s (12-24) and 64 percent on free throws (7-11).
Bellevue held a slight 25-23 rebounding advantage, including a 6-3 edge in offensive rebounds. The Vikings finished with 12 assists and 11 turnovers. Bellevue totaled seven assists and eight turnovers.
Up next: Valley City State goes on the road for games at Dickinson State on Friday and Presentation College on Saturday. Bellevue returns home for games against Viterbo on Friday and Waldorf on Saturday.