CHARLESTON, ILL. - - Behind suffocating halfcourt defense and a career-high 23 points from sophomore Mick Hedgepeth (Crossville, Ala.), Belmont Basketball defeated Eastern Illinois Saturday night, 95-62.
The Bruins, one week separated from an impressive home opening victory over Alabama State, delivered one of their most efficient and complete team performances in recent memory.
Tyler Laser would get the host Panthers on the board first with a straight-on three-pointer 11 seconds in. Thereafter, clean looks would be few and far between for Eastern Illinois as Belmont showcased impassioned defense throughout.
Four early field goals from Hedgepeth allowed the Bruins to build a 16-7 lead seven minutes in. Then after a layin from Ousmane Sisse, Belmont rode junior Jordan Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) and sophomore Scott Saunders (New Orleans, La.) on a 10-0 run to extend the lead to 19, 29-10, with 8:58 left in the half.
The sizable Bruin support section had even more to cheer about later in the half, as senior Keaton Belcher (Butler, Ky.) buried three consecutive treys in a 59 second span to stretch the lead to 38-17.
Bruin defense and rebounding triggered numerous open court opportunities late in the half and a layin from junior Jon House (Guelph, Ont., Canada) upped the margin to 46-19 with 2:07 in the half.
Belmont led 47-22 at halftime.
By any measure, it was a fine first half of work. The Bruins shot 54 percent (19-for-35) in the opening 20 minutes - including 8-for-20 from three-point territory. Moreover, Belmont grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and dished out 13 assists to just two turnovers.
Behind more interior scoring from Hedgepeth, the Bruins scored eight of the first 10 points of the second half. Consecutive treys from sophomore Drew Hanlen (St. Louis, Mo.) and freshman Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) increased the lead to 65-31 with 14:07 left.
The post play of Hedgepeth and Saunders allowed Belmont to get into the bonus less than eight minutes into the second half; the Bruins made 16 of 21 free throws after intermission. Freshman Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) scored on several nice darting drives in the second half as well.
A conventional three-point play from Hedgepeth would provide the largest lead, 40, 90-50, with 5:33 remaining.
Head coach Rick Byrd utilized numerous lineups down the stretch and 10 Bruins would score.
All told, the Bruins shot 53 percent (32-for-61) from the floor - including a season-high 14-for-32 from three-point territory. Belmont outrebounded EIU 41-29 and had a sparkling assist-to-turnover ratio of 23-to-8.
Aside from Hedgepeth's career night, Belcher added 15 points, while Hanlen and Campbell each scored 11.
Laser (3-2) led Eastern Illinois with 21 points.
Belmont (3-2) returns to action Monday night at home against Tennessee State. Tip-off is set for 7 pm CT from the Curb Event Center.
The live play-by-play from Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network.
