LINCOLN, Neb. - Nebraska Wesleyan put together stretches of some of its best basketball of the young season, including a 27-point second quarter and a fourth-quarter surge, but a late cold stretch and the rebounding gap proved too much to overcome in a 76–69 home loss to Bellevue University on Monday night inside Snyder Arena. The Prairie Wolves shot 45.8 percent from deep and forced 27 turnovers, turning them into 30 points, but Bellevue's efficiency in the paint and a 46–27 rebounding deficit swung the night in the Bruins' favor. NWU falls to 2–4 heading into American Rivers Conference play on December 3.
How It Happened
First Quarter
Bellevue wasted no time punching first, opening on a 4–0 run and eventually stretching the lead to double digits on hot perimeter shooting. Brynn Sebek and Anastyn Pettlon each hit early threes to keep NWU afloat, but the Bruins drilled seven triples in the frame and led 26–14 after ten minutes.
Second Quarter
Nebraska Wesleyan completely flipped the momentum. Peyton Tritz and Pettlon sparked the rally with back-to-back threes, and the Prairie Wolves turned Bellevue over repeatedly to fuel transition points. A 12–1 run, capped by a Pettlon pull-up three and a Black layup, gave NWU its first lead at 33–31. Carney Black closed the half with three clutch free throws to send NWU into the break up 41–37 after a 27-point quarter.
Third Quarter
Bellevue responded out of the locker room with a 7–0 run as the game tightened into a possession-by-possession grind. Neither side could find rhythm, and NWU managed just seven points in the quarter. The Bruins scored the final five points of the period to take a 51–48 lead into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
NWU roared back with its best stretch of offense all night. Pettlon sliced in for a layup to ignite an 11–0 run, and the Prairie Wolves built a 59–51 lead with 7:09 left. Bellevue answered immediately with a 9–0 run of its own to reclaim momentum. Pettlon buried back-to-back threes to tie the game at 65, but each time NWU landed a punch, Bellevue matched it.
Trailing 71–68 with thirty seconds remaining, NWU forced a turnover on a sideline inbound, but as Pettlon brought the ball up, Bellevue poked it loose before NWU could secure a timeout. The Bruins converted on the other end and never relinquished control, sealing the 76–69 final.
Inside the Box Score
• Anastyn Pettlon: 19 points, 5 three-pointers, 4 steals
• Peyton Tritz: 17 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds
• Carney Black: 14 points, team-high 6 rebounds
• Brynn Sebek: 11 points, 4 assists, 2 steals
• NWU forced 27 turnovers and scored 30 points off them
• NWU shot 11-of-24 from three (45.8%)
Game Notes
• NWU's 11 made threes tied their highest output of the season.
• Pettlon has now reached double figures in four straight games this season.
• Tritz has scored 15+ in three of six contests this season.
• The Prairie Wolves outscored Bellevue 30–12 in points off turnovers but were outscored 32–20 in the paint.
• NWU posted its best free throw percentage of the season (14-of-18, 77.8%).
Up Next
Nebraska Wesleyan returns to Snyder Arena on Wednesday, December 3, at 5:30 p.m. to host Central in the American Rivers Conference opener.
