NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Behind Keaton Belcher's 17 points and 5-for-6 performance beyond the arc, the Bruins returned to the winning column on Thursday night at the Curb Event Center by defeating conference leader Campbell, 66-55.
Belmont snapped an unfamiliar three game conference losing steak, which was the longest since 2002 when the Bruins lost four straight Atlantic Sun games as a first-year member. The win could not have come at a better time as the Bruins are in the midst of playing four of the top teams in the conference standings; Jacksonville, Campbell, ETSU and Lipscomb.
"When you lose seven of nine, you start losing confidence," head coach Rick Byrd said. "What we haven't lost is the daily effort and effort in games. To go to the line and make free throws that we needed to make really built our confidence moving forward."
In the last five minutes, Belmont drained 13-of-16 free throws which accounted for all of Belmont's points during that period. Freshman Ian Clark was the last to make a field goal with 5:13 left in the second half, putting the Bruins up five. Shooting 22-of-27 from the line tonight, the Bruins have knocked down 78 percent of their free throws in the last two games.
Belcher drained his first five three-point field goals to tie a season-high and recorded double-digit points for the first time since Dec. 5 this season at Mercer. It also marked the first start in the last six games for the Butler, Ky., native who only played 22 minutes after recording four fouls.
"It is great for our team and great for Keaton that he broke out of his slump," Byrd said. "He is not going to be 5-for-6 every time, but if he is a threat every time then we are a better basketball team. If he doesn't do that, and we don't make free throws, then it is a very poor offensive game. We have got to keep getting better there."
Sophomore Mick Hedgepeth recorded his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 10-of-14 from the free throw line. Hedgepeth's hard work on the boards helped Belmont out-rebound Campbell, 43-28.
Campbell (11-6, 6-2 A-Sun) came into Thursday's matchup as winners of five of the last six games with sole possession of first place in the A-Sun. The Fighting Camels shot 50 percent from the field in the first half but the Bruin defense buckled down to hold the Camels to 7-of-26 shooting from the field in the second half. When the final buzzer rang, Belmont held Campbell its lowest shooting percentage during the conference season at 37.5 percent.
Campbell was led by Jonathan Rodriguez as he netted 10 of his 15 total points in the second half. Miles Taylor had 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
It is Belmont's fifth straight win over Campbell, improving an all-time series advantage to 19-3.
Belmont (10-9, 5-4 A-Sun) also snaps a three game losing trend as they prepare to host ETSU on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. in the Curb Event Center. The contest will be broadcast on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.
