JOHNSON CITY, TENN. - - Belmont men's basketball dug deep and showed poise in holding off a final flurry to defeat East Tennessee State Monday night, 74-67.
The Bruins scored a season-high 100 points against ETSU in victory Jan. 23, but a much tighter, lower scoring game materialized in the rematch. Moreover, following a season-high 14 three-pointers from Belmont in the first meeting, the Bucs elected to shelve their halfcourt zone defense in lieu of man-to-man defense.
After falling behind 4-0, Belmont got five points from senior Keaton Belcher (Butler, Ky.) and four points from sophomore Mick Hedgepeth (Crossville, Ala.) to seize an 11-6 lead five minutes in.
The lead seesawed back and forth as each team earned scores against stern halfcourt defense. A Belcher deep three gave the Bruins a 15-14 lead before ETSU scored eight unanswered points to claim a seven point edge.
But the youthful Bruins would battle back, holding ETSU to just one field goal over the next six minutes.
Another Belcher score, followed by second effort baskets from Hedgepeth and junior Jon House (Guelph, Ont., Canada) lifted the Bruins to a 31-28 lead late in the half.
Belmont led 33-30 at halftime.
It was more exemplary halfcourt defense that carried the Bruins to the halftime lead, as leading scorer Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) managed just four points in the opening 20 minutes.
Belmont limited ETSU to 45 percent shooting and zero made three-point field goals in the first half. Moreover, talented perimeter scoring options Justin Tubbs and Micah Williams were each held scoreless in the first half.
The Bruins appeared to be on a mission to open the second half, as baskets from Hedgepeth and House stretched the lead to seven. Both teams sprinkled in some sloppy open court play out of the locker room, as both Belmont and ETSU squandered opportunities.
The Bruins held ETSU scoreless for three and a half minutes until Tommy Hubbard cut the margin to 37-32 with 16:30 left.
Following a Jarvis Jones floater, Belcher and sophomore Drew Hanlen (St. Louis, Mo.) each buried triples before Hedgepeth chipped in another offensive rebound score to increase the Bruin lead to 13, 47-34, with 12:44 left.
Belmont's solid, unified halfcourt defense made the Bucs labor for points and consequently extinguished the life out of the home crowd.
Adam Sollazzo inched ETSU within nine, 47-38. on a driving layin, before the Bruins answered back. A conventional three-point play by Belcher and a pullup jumper from Hanlen bumped the lead back to 14, 55-41, with 9:23 remaining.
Then after two free throws from freshman Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.), Clark stole the ball and drilled a deep three-pointer to extend the lead to 62-45 with 7:08 left.
But much like the Jan. 23 meeting, the Bucs would supply a major push; this time one that would put the outcome in jeopardy.
A Sheldon Cooley three-pointer and two quick interior baskets from Isiah Brown trimmed the margin to eight, 63-55, with 4:01 remaining.
House would make two huge free throws out of the under four timeout before ETSU battled on. The combination of ETSU free throws - scores with the clock stopped - coupled with poor Belmont decisions against Buc pressure made a once comfortable working margin, precarious.
Four points each from Hubbard and Jocolby Davis made the score 65-63 with 2:25 to go.
Following a Bruin timeout, Clark had a pass intercepted by Cooley. The Bucs were racing downcourt on a 3-0 break poised to tie the score at 65. But just as the roof was about to blow off the MSHA Athletic Center courtesy Buc cheers, Cooley blew the open-court slam dunk.
Hanlen gathered the rebound and set up the Belmont offense. Hedgepeth proceeded to grab one of the biggest offensive rebounds of his young career, cleaning up a Hanlen missed trey and laying it in to give the Bruins a 67-63 lead with 1:22 remaining.
Belmont then forced Jones into a contested three-pointer, which rimmed off and was gathered in by Kerron Johnson. Johnson was fouled on the play and made two free throws to increase the lead to 69-63 with 1:03 left.
The Bruins would handle ETSU pressure and make five of six free throws in the final 40 seconds to secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 40 percent (22-for-55) from the field - including just 5-for-23 from three-point distance. But the Bruins went 25-for-34 from the free throw line and outrebounded ETSU, 39-35.
Belcher scored a game-high 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Hedgepeth added 16 points and eight rebounds. Hanlen scored a career-high 15 points, Clark nine. House chipped in six points and eight rebounds.
Brown led ETSU (11-12, 7-5 Atlantic Sun) with 17 points.
Belmont (13-10, 8-5 Atlantic Sun) has now earned season sweeps of Campbell and ETSU in the last 11 days. The Bruins have won 10 of the last 13 meetings with ETSU, including five of six in Johnson City.
The Bruins return to action Friday, Feb. 5 against Jacksonville. Tip-off is set for 6 pm CT from the Curb Event Center. The game will be broadcast live on Comcast Sports Southeast and ESPN360.
The live play-by-play from Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network, with video streaming via ASun.TV.
