POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — The historic season of Indiana University Southeast came to an end on Saturday as the Grenadiers suffered a 71-65 loss to fourth-seeded Bellevue University at the NAIA Division II National Tournament in Point Lookout, Mo.
Bellevue (28-7) limited IUS to 32.4 percent shooting and led 33-24 at intermission and survived a late rally effort by the Grenadiers to move on to Sunday’s national semifinal.
Indiana Southeast, playing in its first national quarterfinals, came into the tournament with the fifth best scoring offense in the NAIA at 88 points per game but Bellevue held IUS to just one field goal over the final 8:30 in the first half to take a 33-24 lead into halftime. Bruins’ guard Avery Tyler was the offensive spark, scoring 16 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance in the opening half.
The Grenadiers scored six of the first eight points to start the second half and were within five (35-30) and eventually tying the game at 43 on a three-point play by Rick Bodiford. Bellevue responded by scoring the next 10 points capped off by a jumper by Tyler to give the Bruins' a 10-point lead with eight minutes to play. Indiana Southeast made one last charge to pull within six during the final minutes but the Bruins held on and advance to their third semifinals.
Bellevue was led by Tyler who scored a game-high 27 points and pulled down five rebounds. Antonio Dade grabbed a tournament best 16 rebounds to go with five points and Marcos Perez added nine points off the bench.
Bodiford was one of five Grenadiers to reach double figures in the loss, scoring 14 points. George White had 13, Jazzmar Ferguson totaled 11 and Brice Mitchell and Carlos Mitchell each added 10.
“All year long we wanted to contend for a national championship,” said Grenadier coach Wiley Brown. “Today we had our opportunities but the shots just didn't fall for us.”
The loss ended the most successful campaign in the history of the IU-Southeast program. The Grenadiers went 27-5 over the season, winning both the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and advance to the NAIA DII quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
In February, IUS reached No. 3 in the NAIA DII polls — which was the highest ranking in the history of the program.
The Grenadiers will lose seven seniors off of this season’s roster — Mitchell, White, Alex Gravelle, DeJon Gary, Clay Ryan, Jeffersonville graduate Josh Lowery and New Albany grad Craig Bryant.
Clark County Sports
COLLEGE HOOPS: Grenadiers fall in quarterfinals
Bellevue ends IU Southeast's historic season
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