Bellevue (NE) BELLEVUE 20-6, 15-5

Montana Western (MT) WESTERN 18-8, 13-7

Bellevue (NE) BELLEVUE

20-6, 15-5

Final

Feb. 14, 2026

Montana Western (MT) WESTERN

18-8, 13-7

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Bellevue (NE) BELLEVUE	33	39	72
Montana Western (MT) WESTERN	36	37	73

Summary
Box Score

Terri Haverfield

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | February 14, 2026 | Claire Gay, UMW Sports Information

Western MBB Battles for 73-72 Victory Over Bellevue

DILLON, Mont. – The UMW men's basketball program (18-8, 13-7 FC) pulled off a thrilling 73-72 "senior-night" victory over Bellevue (20-5, 15-5 FC) Saturday.

The Bulldogs fought tooth and nail against one of the league's top teams, leading by as many as 12 before holding on for the one-point win.

"So proud of our guys for finding a way," head coach Patrick Jensen said. "Gritty win on senior night and thankful we could send those seven seniors out with a win!"

STAT BREAKDOWN
UMW shot 47.1 percent (24-51) from the floor, 52.4 percent (11-21) from downtown, and 77.8 percent (14-18) from the line.

The Bulldogs tallied 29 rebounds, 10 assists, six steals, and four blocks.

They registered 26 points in the paint, 10 points off turnovers, three second-chance points, and 35 bench points.

LEADERBOARD
Kyle Gruhler led the team with 23 points, followed by David Young with 15.

Billy Carlson pulled down a team-high six rebounds.

Jacob Ankeny registered a team-best three assists and game-high two blocks.

Young earned a game-best three steals.

NOTABLES
Gruhler tallied his 14th 20-point game of the season.

Ankeny posted multiple blocks for the fifth time.

Young registered his seventh multi-steal game.

Six Bulldogs shot at least 50.0 percent from the field.

Western has earned three or more blocks in four of the last five.

Four straight games with 10 or more assists.

GAME SUMMARY
The game was back-and-forth through the first 10 minutes of action.

The Bulldogs then went on a 12-0 run to take a 28-16 lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the half.

Bellevue cut the lead to three, 36-33, by the half time whistle.

UMW shot 44.4 percent (12-27) from the field, 58.3 percent (7-12) from deep, and 71.4 percent (5-7) from the line in the first half.

The second frame was an all out war between the two sides, and neither team led by more than five for the entire 20 minutes.

A late trip to the stripe by the visitors knotted the game at 72 with one minute remaining in regulation.

Jacob Ankeny drilled the game-winning free-throw with 50 seconds left, and Bellevue missed the last-ditch three to give the Bulldogs the narrow victory.

THE OTHER GUYS
The Bruins shot 42.1 percent (24-57) from the floor, 31.6 percent (6-19), 75.0 percent (18-24) from the stripe. They tallied 37 rebounds, nine assists, five steals, and two blocks. Ahamad Bynum led all players with 31 points. Jaden Phillips (15), RJ Smith (10), and Jermaine Haliburton (10) were also in double figures. Liam Thompson tallied a game-best 10 rebounds. JJ Montgomery handed out a game-high four assists. Haliburton snagged a team-best two steals while Phillips and Smith each tallied a block.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs travel to Providence (2/20) and MSU-Northern (2/21) next weekend for the final two games of the regular season.

For complete coverage of UMW Men's Basketball, be sure to follow us on social media at @umwesternbball (Instagram), @UMWesternBball (X), and @Montana Western Men's Basketball (Facebook) or visit our official website at UMWBulldogs.com.

#GOBULLDOGS!

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