A 10-point comeback in the second half fell short after Bellevue College men’s basketball dug themselves into a deep hole in the first half as the unbeaten host Walla Walla (4-0) defeated the Bulldogs 85-76 last night in Walla Walla.
After a series of games this year in which Bellevue has started out strong but labored in the second half of each game, the ‘dogs gave control to Walla Walla early as the Warriors controlled offensive possession in the entire first half, putting up 37 attempts, including 19 from three-point range and dominating the boards, outrebounding BC 21-10.
After heading into the locker room down with a 19 point deficit, the Bulldogs were able to flip the momentum in the second half by not allowing the Warriors to continue burying them any deeper from the perimeter. The comeback couldn’t get any closer than six as one player, Walla Walla’s Damen Thacker single-handedly kept BC at a distance from which they could never threaten by scoring 19 points and draining 10-of-13 from the free throw line.
Kai Warren’s field goal with a little under four minutes remaining put BC within six but could not get any closer. Ting-Jhao Jian continued his scoring presence with a 30-point night making 11-of-18 from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 from the line. Warren added 16 while Jordan Magee added 13 off the bench.
Bellevue is now 3-2 on the year and hosts Chemeketa (OR) this Friday December 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Courter Family Pavilion.
Last Updated December 2, 2018
