Waldorf Builds Advantage, Fends off Bellevue in Final Moments

FOREST CITY, IA – The Warriors did not let its lead slip away Friday night. After taking the lead with 8:16 left in the opening half, Waldorf University built on the advantage and fended off Bellevue University in the final moments for the 62-58 men's basketball victory.

Tied at 14-14 midway through the first half, Waldorf put the next eight points on the board and never gave up the edge over the final 28:16 of the game. With 2:16 left in the game and trailing by eight, Bellevue scored eight of the following 10 points off a 3-pointer, three foul shots and a layup to cut the margin down to only two, 60-58, with 18 seconds. But, it was the Warriors night as Noah Miller sank a pair of free throws with nine seconds showing to clinch the North Star Athletic Association win.

With a balanced attack, Waldorf saw Khyle Washington led the way with 14 points and six rebounds. Miller downed a pair of treys, but nothing more important than the two free throws at the end for 12 points to go with six boards and three steals. Ugo Ejiofor posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds while he swatted five shots.

Kaelon Harkema added nine points, five rebounds and two assists. Off the bench, Justin Wiggins, who hit two 3-pointers, and Khalil Grayson combined for 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

The Bruins saw T.J. Fritz make 6 of 13 from the floor for 16 points.

Starting the night, Bellevue had everything going for it as the visitors netted the night's first eight tallies. Behind a pair of Wiggins treys and a Ejiofor dunk, Waldorf bounced right back to edge ahead, 14-12, with 9:47 elapsed. Washington capped the key 8-0 Warriors' spurt with the final two buckets to go ahead 22-14. Waldorf also put in the last two scores of the opening stanza to take a 10-point, 32-22, lead to the intermission.

"This was a really big effort from our guys tonight," said Waldorf Head Coach Nigel Jenkins.  "Defensively, we were really solid.  We did have a few undisciplined moments, but we found a way to win.  Bellevue has been a tough team for us to go against for years.  They made a run at us late but we found a way to hang on and win.  It will be another tough test for us tomorrow.  We have to find a way to give full effort for 40 minutes."

Waldorf expanded the margin to a 13 points on a Ejiofor 3-point play, 41-28, only 4:33 into the half. The home pushed the lead to as many as 15 points two times, 48-33 and 50-35, halfway through the second 20 minutes.

Bellevue, though, made its final push in the final five minutes, but Waldorf kept them from completing the rally.

Waldorf will try to make it two in a row for the weekend when it hosts Dakota State in another NSAA contest on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 3, starting at approximately 5 p.m.

-Warriors-