Stevenson Lifts Slam Past WWU Alumni, 108-100
May 18, 2015 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Bellingham Slam's return to the court in 2015 was a successful one, as they defeated the WWU Alumni, 108-100 in an exhibition contest at Carver Gymnasium on Sunday.
The Slam, without a league to play in for the 2015 season following changes with the International Basketball League, scheduled the exhibition with the Vikings as part of the university's annual Back 2 Bellingham alumni weekend.
Guard Jacob Stevenson, the longest-tenured player on the Slam roster, scored the go-ahead points on a floater in the lane with just under a minute remaining to put Bellingham on top for good in what had been a back-and-forth affair.
The Alumni side proved their mettle early, storming out to a 35-20 lead after one quarter on 10 points from guard Cam Severson.
The Slam came storming back early in the second quarter, with a quick 10-3 run in the first two minutes putting them within a basket. Bellingham took their first lead of the quarter with 3:41 left, at 46-44 on a Stevenson jumper, and held it for the remainder of the half, leading 55-52.
In the second half, guard Preston Vermeulen came off the Alumni bench to spark a comeback, scoring 8 of 10 points for his team in a two-minute stretch midway through the third to take a 64-63 lead. WWU led 76-74 after three.
The Alumni continued to lead for much of the fourth quarter, thanks to more hot shooting from Vermeulen. He hit a trio of three-pointers in the middle of the period to put the Vikings up 94-88 with 5:41 left. The Slam chipped away at the lead on their next several possessions before forward Tyler Amaya sank a pair of free throws to tie the game at 100-all with 2:18 remaining.
The Slam held the Vikings scoreless the rest of the way and sealed the win with perfect shooting from the line.
Forward Lukas Henne paced the Slam with 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, while Stevenson finished with 23. Guard Morris Anderson posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Vermeulen led five Vikings in double figures with 22 points, 21 of which came in the second half. Severson added 17, while forward Austin Bragg had 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
In total, there were 23 ties and lead changes throughout the contest.
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International Basketball League Stories from May 18, 2015
- Stevenson Lifts Slam Past WWU Alumni, 108-100 - Bellingham Slam
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