BUIES CREEK, N.C. - - The weather outside may have been frightful, but the Bruins' play was so delightful. Belmont men's basketball braved the wintry conditions to deliver a virtuoso performance in defeating Campbell Saturday, 75-50.
Belmont used a combination of solid halfcourt defense and efficient offense in earning a second victory over Campbell in nine days.
Through the first 10 minutes, not a soul could have foreseen a one-sided affair. Both teams appeared engaged and forceful defensively and points proved hard to come by.
But after Preston Dodson gave Campbell a 10-9 lead seven minutes in, the Bruins received three-point field goals from senior Keaton Belcher (Butler, Ky.) and freshman Brandon Baker (Milford, Ohio) to build a 17-11 lead.
Coach Byrd would call a variety of numbers early; in fact, all 11 Bruins who dressed out for the game appeared within the first eight minutes. Baker and freshman Adam Barnes (Clarksville, Tenn.) would each make huge contributions.
After a Junard Hartley basket, Baker capped a 9-2 Belmont run with another three-point field goal as the Bruin lead grew to 26-15 with 5:35 left in the half.
Kyle Vejraska got Campbell within 26-21, before the Bruins closed the half on a 14-2 spurt.
After a conventional three-point play from freshman Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.), freshman Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) buried consecutive three-pointers. Belcher added another trey to send the Bruins to the locker room up 17, 40-23.
It was a remarkable first half for Belmont by any measure; the Bruins shot 57 percent (12-for-21) from the field - including 7-for-14 from three-point distance. Belmont also held Campbell to 38 percent shooting and was plus-eight on the boards.
The Camels scored the first four points of the second half before Belmont ripped off a 13-0 run to break free. Clark and Johnson each hit three-point field goals and sophomore Drew Hanlen (St. Louis, Mo.) scored seven points during the run.
A Belcher wing three-pointer and a layin from sophomore Mick Hedgepeth (Crossville, Ala.) stretched the lead to 61-29 with 12 minutes to go.
For the game, Belmont shot 47 percent (20-for-42) from the field - including 11-for-25 from three-point territory. The Bruins' defense was the story, holding Campbell to a season-low 50 points and a season-low 31 percent shooting.
Moreover, Belmont held Campbell's all-time leading scorer and perennial all-conference forward Jonathan Rodriguez scoreless for the first time in his stellar career.
Clark paced three Bruins in double figures with 14 points. Belcher scored 13 points, while Johnson added 12 points.
Amir Celestin led Campbell (12-8, 7-4 Atlantic Sun) with 12 points.
Belmont (12-10, 7-5 Atlantic Sun) returns to action Monday, Feb. 1 at East Tennessee State. Tip-off is set for 6:00 pm CT.
The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network, with video streaming via ASun.TV.
