Jimmies beat Bellevue, will play #3 LSU-Shreveport Saturday

OMAHA, Neb.-- Mason Walters (SO/Jamestown, ND) scored 30 points and pulled down seven rebounds to help lead the University of Jamestown men's basketball team to an 86-69 win over Bellevue (Neb.) University Saturday in Omaha Bracket B of the NAIA Opening Round, Presented by Ballogy.

Jamestown (20-8) advances to the pod championship against No. 3 LSU-Shreveport Saturday at 2 p.m.

Walters made 14-of-17 shots from the field, and the Jimmies shot 62.7 percent (32-of-51) overall.

UJ sank its first five shots from the field to start the game, taking an early 12-8 lead. The Jimmies would lead by as many as eight before the Bruins cut the deficit to two with just over five minutes left in the half.

Jamestown led 33-29 despite turning the ball over 13 times in the first half, giving the Bruins a 12-2 edge in points off turnovers.

Bellevue got within 37-35 early in the second half thanks to an 8-2 run to open, but the Jimmies responded by stretching the lead to 13 after baskets by Brock Schrom (SR/Grand Rapids, MN) and Walters.

The Bruins put up one last run, cutting the lead to 68-67 at the 4:36 mark. On UJ's next possession, Walters scored a basket to make it a three-point game, and the Jimmies went on to score the next 11 points, going up by 14 after a Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN) bucket.

Birch finished with 16 points and six assists while Marc Kjos (SO/Lake City, MN) was also in double figures with 12. UJ outrebounded Bellevue 38-16, including 6-0 on the offensive glass.

Eric Pierce led Bellevue with 20 points, followed by Isaiah Bates with 18 and Vinny Belcaster with 11. The Bruins end the season with a record of 20-14.