Box Score SPARTANBURG, S.C. - - Behind a season-high 19 points from junior Mick Hedgepeth (Crossville, Ala.) and clutch plays from its point guards late, Belmont men's basketball defeated USC Upstate, 67-62, Friday night.
Much like recent victories, the Bruins trailed only briefly in the first half, this outing on an opening jumper from Josh Chavis. However, unlike its previous seven victories, Belmont would be forced to make plays on both ends right to the final horn.
Seven early points from Hedgepeth and more strong defense carried Belmont to a 16-5 lead midway through the first half.
But two quick three-pointers from Torrey Craig inched the Spartans within 18-13 with 7:46 left in the half. For much of the early going, Belmont hounded USC Upstate players, with offensive rebounds and long tip-outs for three-pointers providing the Spartans best chance to score.
A conventional three-point play from junior Scott Saunders (New Orleans, La.) and a steal and coast-to-coast layin from sophomore Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) pushed the Belmont lead back to 23-12 with 6:25 left in the half.
Both teams strung one-and-dones together as a tough-minded, defensive struggle materialized. After a baseline three-pointer from junior Drew Hanlen (St. Louis, Mo.), Babatunde Olumuyiwa scored inside to trim the Bruin lead to nine, 30-21, at halftime.
Belmont shot 44 percent (12-for-27) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including an icy 2-for-11 from three-point distance in the newly-renovated Hodge Center.
The Bruins held USC Upstate to 36 percent shooting in the first half, while forcing 11 turnovers.
After a Chavis three-pointer opened the second half, Hedgepeth again delivered five points inside to push the Bruins out to a 35-24 edge with 17:25 left.
Then following a tough basket from Saunders, Belmont held USC Upstate without a field goal for over three minutes. However, each opportunity to stretch the lead out went by the boards.
Two more deep, contested three-pointers from Craig got the Spartans back within 37-35 with 12:27 remaining.
In need of an offensive lift, freshman J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) buried a timely three-pointer to give the Bruins a 41-37 lead with 11:36 to go.
Clark then tacked on a layin, before sophomore Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) kept the run going with back-to-back three-pointers. Johnson's clutch production gave the Bruins a 49-40 lead with 7:50 left.
Craig kept the Spartans hanging around, before Hanlen and Clark strung together two straight three-pointers to put the Bruins up 57-48 with 4:53 to go.
Yet again, Spartan offensive rebounds and the play of Craig and Chavis inhibited the Bruins from breaking free.
After Chavis made the score 57-51, Johnson fed freshman Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) for a layin to put the Bruins back up eight. Johnson then stole the insuing inbounds pass and fed Jenkins who was fouled at the rim.
Jenkins made two free throws out of the under four minute timeout to put the Bruins up 61-51 with 3:51 left.
Belmont maintained the 10-point lead under 2:30 left, before Ricardo Glenn's conventional three-point play trimmed the margin to seven with 2:19 left.
Then after Clark and Marquis Sloan exchanged misses, Olumuyiwa blocked Johnson on a layin attempt and the ball deflected off Johnson out of bounds.
Moments later, Olumuyiwa scored off a pass from Sloan to get the Spartans within 61-56 with 1:20 remaining.
After breaking Spartan pressure, Johnson was fouled and made two free throws to push the Bruin lead back to seven with 55 seconds left.
Chavis then drove and was blocked on a drive by senior Jordan Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.), but Campbell was called for a body foul.
Chavis' free throws got USC Upstate back within 63-58 with 38 seconds to go.
Moments later, Hanlen was fouled and calmly sank two free throws to stretch the lead back out to 65-58.
Then against solid Bruin defense, Craig made his most impressive and contested shot of the night, a deep three-pointer with a hand in his face to make the score 65-61 with 27 seconds left.
Johnson would be fouled next, and he uncharacteristically missed both free throws with 23 seconds to go.
But after Craig claimed the rebound, a long pass downcourt went just past the reach of Sloan out of bounds to give possession back to the Bruins.
Belmont found Hedgepeth on the subsequent inbounds play, but after using four seconds and not receiving a Spartan foul, the post player called timeout with 14 seconds left.
Then out of a timeout, Hanlen found Johnson open, but officials ruled Johnson's heels were on the baseline and awarded the ball to USC Upstate with 11 seconds left.
Olumuyiwa would then be fouled by Hedgepeth in the act of shooting with eight seconds remaining. His first free throw hit the right side of the rim, bounced high into the air, and rimmed home, to get the Spartans within 65-62.
But Olumuyiwa would miss the second free throw. Hedgepeth claimed the defensive rebound and would be fouled on the play.
Hedgepeth then sank two clutch free throws with seven seconds left to secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 42 percent (22-for-53) from the field - including 7-for-24 from three-point distance.
Aside from Hedgepeth's 19 points, Clark scored 10 points for the Bruins. Saunders had nine points, while Hanlen and Johnson each added eight. Sophomore Trevor Noack (Keller, Texas) had a team-high seven rebounds.
Craig led USC Upstate (2-16, 1-7 Atlantic Sun) with 23 points.
Belmont (17-3, 9-0 Atlantic Sun) returns to action Sunday, Jan. 23 at ETSU. Tip-off is set for 3pm CT.
The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network. Live video streaming will be provided via ASun.TV.
