Orange City, Iowa — Alex Van Kalsbeek poured in a game-high 28 points and a great defensive play late by Craig Sterk pushed Northwestern past Bellevue 82-79 in a non-conference, men’s basketball contest played Saturday at the Bultman Center. The Raiders earned their second win against the Bruins this season and improve to 9-4 overall.
Tied for the sixth and final time at 78 with just 45 seconds left, Van Kalsbeek made 1-of-2 free throws with 20 seconds left to put Northwestern in front for good. Following a Bellevue timeout, Sterk came up with the defensive play of the game, stealing a pass intended for post player Lewis Hayes, and Northwestern immediately called timeout. Isaac Heyer then made two free throws and Van Kalsbeek converted 1-of-2 from the line in the closing four seconds to preserve the win.
Van Kalsbeek led Head Coach Kris Korver’s squad with his third double-double in a Raider uniform and second against the Bruins. The freshman made 10-of-14 field goal attempts en route to his ninth 20+ point game of the season. Trent Hilbrands added 18 points, draining three three-pointers, and both Heyer (12) and Jay Small (11) were also in double figures.
Both teams shot 51% from the field and 44% from the three-point line; Bellevue held a slim 36-34 on the boards.
Northwestern and Bellevue traded baskets over the first 10 minutes of the game; the Raiders went ahead 26-25 on a steal and lay-up by Chris Kroll only to have the Bruins respond with the best scoring run of the game, a 10-0 surge for a 35-26 lead with 6:51 left in the first half. Northwestern closed the gap to three, 42-39, by halftime.
A 10-3 run by the hosts tied the game at 57 after a jumper by Small midway into the second half. Heyer then drained a three-pointer moments later to give Northwestern its first lead since the 10-minute mark of the first half. Korver’s team built up a six-point advantage at the 5-minute mark, only to have Bellevue rally on an 8-1 run, setting the stage for the dramatic final 40 seconds.
Jemeil King led the Bruins with 19 points, followed by Lewis Hayes with 18.
