MACON, GA. - - For the second straight game, Belmont men's basketball found an extra gear in the extra session. In a thrilling end-to-end contest, the Bruins defeated Mercer Saturday, 94-90, in overtime.
Belmont defeated Kennesaw State Thursday night, 75-70, in overtime, but early on, it didn't appear the Bruins would need added time. An open court steal and layin from junior Jon House (Guelph, Ont., Canada) gave Belmont a 6-0 lead three minutes in.
Then a steal and layin in from freshman Brandon Baker (Milford, Ohio), off a nice feed from sophomore Drew Hanlen (St. Louis, Mo.) increased the Bruin lead to 12-2.
The play prompted an immediate timeout from Mercer head coach Bob Hoffman, who emptied his bench and floored five new players.
The Bears' reserves provided a nice lift, as a layin from Ridas Pulkauninkas got Mercer within 18-15 midway through the first half.
From there, Belmont got back-to-back threes from House and senior Keaton Belcher (Butler, Ky.) and a conventional three-point play from sophomore Mick Hedgepeth (Crossville, Ala.) to extend the lead back to 27-15.
With Mercer continuing to push the tempo off misses and makes, Belmont defended and rebounded well in the first half. Consequently, the Bruins created open court opportunities and high percentage shots for themselves.
The lead swelled to 18, 46-28, on a post basket from sophomore Scott Saunders (New Orleans, La.), before the Bears scored the final three points of the half.
Belmont limited Mercer to 40 percent shooting in the first half while forcing 10 turnovers. Moreover, the Bruins held conference leading scorer James Florence to six first half points on 2-for-9 shooting.
But much like Thursday night at the Owls, Belmont seemingly could not enjoy and build upon early prosperity. Aided by Bruin turnovers, Mercer scored three baskets to open the second half and inch within nine points.
A layin from Hedgepeth and a fast break slam from Belcher pushed the lead back to 52-40 with 16:12 left in regulation.
Yet methodically, Mercer's senior duo of Florence and Daniel Emerson rose up. Seven quick points from Florence narrowed the margin to five, 59-54, with 10:34 to go.
The Bruins steadied things on a tough layin from Saunders and a short jumper from freshman Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.), but the Florence-led Mercer offense kept coming.
Jeff Smith capped a 17-7 Mercer run to give the host Bears a 73-72 lead with 2:34 left in regulation.
Moments later, Clark answered with a sweet baseline drive and score to put Belmont back on top.
Then after an exchange of defensive stops, Clark went coast-to-coast for two and a 76-73 Bruin lead with 1:32 left.
Smith set up Brian Mills for an easy layin to cut the margin to one, 76-75, with 1:15 to go.
The Bruins then worked the offensive possession setting up Belcher for a wing jumper. It rimmed off, but House skied for a clutch weakside rebound to preserve the Bruins possession.
After a brief stoppage to confirm the game clock and shot clock, Belmont passed amidst heavy Mercer pressure before Hedgepeth was fouled.
The sophomore post man calmly sank both free throws to increase the lead back to three, 78-75, with 18 seconds in regulation.
Following a Mercer timeout for offensive substitution, the Bears freed E.J. Kusnyer for a three-pointer, which he sank with 10 seconds in regulation to tie the score at 78.
Freshman Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) raced into the frontcourt on the Bruins' final possession, but his lead pass to Hedgepeth was deflected away and the buzzer sounded.
The déjà vu to the Kennesaw State game continued as Belmont imposed its will quickly in overtime. Hedgepeth scored an interior basket 13 seconds into the extra frame, putting the Bruins ahead 80-78.
Following a Florence layin, Clark and Belcher each made one free throw to give the Bruins an 82-80 edge. Mills would then score an offensive rebound basket and two free throws as Mercer claimed an 84-82 advantage with 2:49 left in overtime.
That is when Belmont's freshman backcourt duo stole the show. Clark ripped the nets on a wing trey off a great skip pass from Hedgepeth to put the Bruins back ahead, 85-84, with 2:33 in overtime.
Then after an Emerson interior miss, Hedgepeth sank two free throws to stretch the lead to three. Mercer wasn't done yet. Florence made a deep three-pointer through a Belmont double team to tie the score at 87 with 1:53 left in overtime.
But Belmont's point guard had a response of his own. Late in the shot clock on a somewhat stagnant Bruin possession, Johnson drilled a straight-on three-pointer to put the Bruins back on top 90-87.
Belcher would then steal the ball from Emerson on the block to get possession back. Up three, Belmont worked the shot clock before Johnson missed a contested pullup jumper.
With time winding down, Florence drove the lane rather than shooting from long range, leading to a Hanlen blocking foul.
Florence proceeded to make one free throw to cut the margin to 90-88 with 16 seconds left. Belmont executed a solid inbounds play and broke pressure until Johnson was fouled with 11 seconds remaining. Johnson confidently buried both free throws to put the Bruins back up four.
Then, the Bruins played solid open court defense and smothered the three-point line before surrendering a dunk to Emerson with three seconds to go.
Following a defensive inbounds warning on Mills and leading 92-90, Belmont found Clark on the subsequent inbounds pass before he was fouled. And much like Hedgepeth and Johnson before, Clark swished both free throws to secure the win.
All told, Belmont shot 47 percent (31-for-66) from the field - including 9-for-25 from three-point territory. Clark paced four Bruins in double figures with a career-high 22 points and eight rebounds. Hedgepeth added 20 points and six rebounds. Belcher had 14, Johnson 13.
Florence led Mercer (3-5, 0-2 Atlantic Sun) with 25 points on 9-for-23 shooting.
Belmont (6-2, 2-0) returns to action Tuesday night at Middle Tennessee State. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm CT. The live play-by-play from Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network.
