NASHVILLE, TENN. - - Belmont men's basketball dropped a 63-60 decision to Eastern Illinois Saturday night.
In their first home game since November 30 and their final game before the Christmas holiday, the Bruins were unable to find any semblance of a rhythm against the purposeful visitors from Charleston, Ill.
Though Belmont sank a season-high 14 three-pointers against Eastern Illinois in the earlier meeting this season, the Panthers made a concerted effort to take away the interior play of sophomore Mick Hedgepeth (Crossville, Ala.) - who scored a career-high 23 points in the first contest.
Eastern Illinois packed in an active halfcourt zone defense, forcing the Bruins to the perimeter. Freshman Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) got Belmont on the board with a short jumper three minutes into the game.
However, the Bruin defense was equal to the task, as a true slugfest developed. Following a Clark three-pointer, Saunders scored from close range to give Belmont an 18-16 lead with 5:36 left in the half.
Then leading 22-20, the Bruins received back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore Drew Hanlen (St. Louis, Mo.) in a 19 second span to provide a 28-20 lead at the break.
Belmont shot 39 percent (10-for-26) in the first half, while holding Eastern Illinois to 6-for-20 shooting.
A straight-on three-pointer from senior Keaton Belcher (Butler, Ky.) inched the lead to nine, 31-22, with 18:29 left.
But just as the Bruins appeared ready to kick things into high gear, the Panthers hunkered down and proceeded to amplify their offensive execution. Meanwhile, Belmont's staple to date this season - sound halfcourt man-to-man defense - dropped ever so slightly.
Jeremy Granger capped a 12-3 Eastern Illinois run which tied the score at 34 with 13:45 to go. The Bruins periodically attacked the Panther zone off the bounce, but misfires from long range mounted and second chance points proved hard to come by.
Nevertheless, a wing trey from junior Jordan Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) gave the Bruins a 43-38 edge with 9:44 remaining. But six straight Panther points quickly erased the lead.
The lead swung back and forth as did momentum, before Saunders put Belmont ahead 51-50 with 3:55 left. But a short jumper from James Hollowell and four free throws enabled Eastern Illinois to regain the lead 56-51 with 2:36 to go.
Following a Hedgepeth layin, the Panthers sank three more free throws to up the margin to six.
Belmont would offer one last push. Campbell ripped the nets again from long distance to get the Bruins within two, 60-58, with 22 seconds left. Then after two Tyler Laser free throws, Hedgepeth scored on the offensive glass to again get Belmont within two points, 62-60, with 4.4 seconds left.
On the subsequent inbounds play, Laser was fouled once more. However, he missed the first of two three throw attempts. He made the second, to give the Panthers a 63-60 lead with 3.8 seconds left.
Needing to go the length of the court in search of a game-tying three-pointer, Belmont's deep inbounds pass was tipped away as time expired.
It was a difficult reversal of fortune for the Bruins, who had played expertly on both ends of the floor in winning at Eastern Illinois Nov. 28. All told, Belmont shot a season-low 36 percent (20-for-55) from the field - including 9-for-34 from three-point distance.
Furthermore, Eastern Illinois shot 61 percent from the floor in the second half.
Clark led Belmont with 13 points. Campbell added 12 and Hedgepeth 10.
Laser had 14 points for Eastern Illinois (6-4).
The Bruins (7-4, 2-0 Atlantic Sun) return to action following the Christmas holiday Tuesday, Dec. 29 at No. 1 Kansas.
Tip-off is set for 8pm CT from historic Allen Fieldhouse. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU. The live play-by-play from Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network.
Brian Karst of Belmont Media Relations is also expected to provide a live blog from courtside of the Belmont-Kansas game.
