BELLEVUE, Neb. -- 8th-ranked Bellevue University used a 32-4 run in the second half to blow open the game as the Bruins defeated Nebraska Wesleyan 109-75 in the season opener for the Prairie Wolves basketball team on Tuesday night (Nov. 10) at the Lozier Athletic Center in Bellevue, Neb.

It was the 2015-16 season opener for the NWU men's basketball team, while Bellevue improves to 4-1 overall.  The game counts towards the Prairie Wolves overall record, but goes down as exhibition in accordance with NCAA III.

NWU came out firing to start the game and led 15-6 just five minutes into the contest as the Prairie Wolves full court pressure defense had the Bruins flustered.  The Prairie Wolves maintained the lead at 19-14 at the 13:05 mark of the first half.

From there, the Bruins went on a 12-2 run over the next four minutes to take a five point lead.  Bellevue extended their lead to as many as 18 points in the first half but the Prairie Wolves cut the lead to 11 at 48-37 at halftime.

To start the second half, Keithan Karn hit a 3-pointer at the 17:45 mark to cut the lead down to eight points at 54-46.  The teams traded baskets and saw the Bruins lead 59-48.  That was as close as the game would be the rest of the way.  Over the next seven minutes the Bruins went on a 32-4 run to go up by 39 points at 91-52.  During that stretch, Mike Cardenas connected on seven 3-pointers.

NWU shot just 34.2 percent for the game, and hit only 7-32 from 3-point range. Bellevue shot 66.7 percent in the second half and finished at 53.9 percent.  The Bruins were 14-28 from 3-point range.

Trey Bardsley was the lone NWU player to reach double figures as he scored 15 points while shooting 5-16 from the field and 1-5 from 3-point range.  New point guard Max Cook had a solid performance in his debut scoring nine points with three rebounds and three steals.

Cardenas led four Bellevue players in double figures as he finished with 21 points on 7-10 from 3-point range.

NWU will next be in action on Sunday at Buena Vista University.