Coyotes nearly upset No.17 Bellevue
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Kansas Wesleyan nearly pulled a huge upset in NAIA Division II, but a late rally fell short as the No.17 Bellevue Bruins beat the Coyotes 59-55 at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center on Tuesday night.

Willie McCarty put the Coyotes on top 2-0 with 18:02 go in the first half, and both teams would trade baskets back and forth until the 9:42 mark when the Bruins would go on their first big run of the night.

Jerod Tucker gave Bellevue a 13-11 lead on a bucket, sparking an 11-0 burst that saw the Bruins take a 22-11 lead with 6:49 to go in the half. Mike Bartee would convert a lay-up to break the run, but the Bruins would take their biggest lead of the night at 25-13 on a three from Chad Wallesen with 3:41 left.

The Coyotes didn’t fold the tent, instead rallying and using a DaRon Stafford triple just before the half to cut the lead to 27-22 at the break.

Bellevue would again increase its lead to 12 at the 17:14 mark on a Klaye Rowe tip-in, but the Coyotes would rally. Romero Hood would score off a pass from Dane Baxa, as the Coyotes would erase the deficit, taking a 43-42 lead with 6:45 to go on a bucket by Romero Hood, capping a 19-6 run.

Baxa would give the lead back the Coyotes with 5:17 left, one that Wesleyan would not surrender until less than a minute remained. The Coyotes would go up by as many as four, on a triple from Mychal Henderson with 2:38 left.

The Bruins (8-0) would answer with a 9-0 run to seal the win. Rowe would get things started for Bellevue, who would take the lead with 53 seconds left on a three from Wallesen. Stanley Boateng’s free throws would put them up five with 12 seconds left, but a Henderson triple would bank in to make it 57-55 with six seconds left.

Forced to foul the Coyotes sent Wallesen to the line, and he converted both foul shots to seal the 59-55 win.

Wesleyan (2-4) was led in scoring by Hood’s 18 points, while Henderson added 15 and Stafford added ten as the Coyotes were 20-of-53 from the floor for 37.7 percent. Henderson led with six rebounds as the Coyotes were dominated on the glass 41-29. Boone led the way with four assists.

Bellevue was led by John Gray with 15, while Rowe added 14 and 11 rebounds and Tucker dropped in 13. The Bruins were 23-of-54 from the field for 42.6 percent. Neville Brown and Hannibal Cofield would each add seven boards for the Bruins.

The Coyotes are back in action on Friday, taking on Missouri Western in the AM580 WIBW/Premier Mortgage Holiday Classic at 5:30 at Washburn University in Topeka. Wesleyan then plays the host Ichabods on Saturday at 7:30. Both contests are exhibition matchups for the Coyotes.

-- KWU SI --