Box Score MONTGOMERY, Ala. - - Belmont men's basketball used strong halfcourt defense and a career-high 15 points off the bench from freshman J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) to defeat Alabama State, 66-53, Monday night.
After a viruoso offensive performance Saturday at Troy, the Bruins found much greater resistance in the Hornets' nest.
In a game that will most likely not make the ESPN Classic archives, Belmont got on the board with a three-pointer from sophomore Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) From there, points would prove hard to come by.
Both teams exhibited tough, physical defense, such that mere passing and catching was difficult. Much of the first 10 minutes turned into players battling for loose balls to preserve possession.
A short jumper from senior Jon House (Guelph, Ont., Canada) increased the Belmont lead to 9-0. In fact, the Bruins held Alabama State scoreless for the first 10:08 of the game, before a Jeff Middlebrooks jumper got the Hornets on the board.
From there, the Bruins endured a lengthy dry spell, as interior shots and three-pointers inexplicably rimmed off. Alabama State answered with a 16-2 run midway through the half to go ahead 16-11, before Mann sparked a Bruin turnaround.
Mann scored 10 consecutive points over the final 3:05 of the first half to lift Belmont to a 28-22 halftime lead.
Belmont led by six despite shooting 31 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Bruins forced 12 first half turnovers and held the Hornets without a three-pointer on nine attempts.
Three-pointers from Clark and junior Drew Hanlen (St. Louis, Mo.) doubled the advantage to 34-22 with 18:28 remaining.
Outstanding drives and pressure defense from sophomore Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) helped the Bruins stretch the lead to 40-24 with 15:45 to go.
Alabama State got into the bonus with 11:04 left, and used free throws and more strong defense to hang around.
But the Bruins maintained their poise and purpose, and when senior Jordan Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) buried a wing three-pointer, Belmont led 64-44 with 4:24 left.
Another Mann jumper capped the Bruin scoring.
All told, Belmont shot 52 percent from the field in the second half - including 6-for-11 from three-point distance. The Bruins held Alabama State to 36 percent shooting while forcing 19 turnovers.
Aside from Mann's 15 points, Clark added 12. Hanlen had six points, eight assists and four steals.
Stephawn Brown led Alabama State (2-9) with 11 points.
Belmont (9-2, 2-0 Atlantic Sun) returns to action Thursday, Dec. 23 at Tennessee. Tip-off is set for 6:30pm CT. The game wil be broadcast live on SportSouth, with the live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram on the Bruin Sports Network.
