Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind a season-high 13 three-point field goals and more strong defense, Belmont men's basketball defeated Stetson, 82-64, Sunday to give head coach Rick Byrd career victory No. 600.
The Bruins - which coincidentally provided Byrd with his 500th career victory at Belmont Jan. 3 at the same Hatter squad - would labor somewhat early against Stetson's trademark halfcourt zone defense.
A baseline three-pointer from Ridge Graham and a bank shot from Steve Forbes gave Stetson a 14-9 lead six minutes into the game.
But behind timely contributions from sophomore Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) and freshman J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.), Belmont began to showcase its remarkable ability to turn turnovers or long rebounds into points.
Trailing 18-17 midway through the half, the Bruins got consecutive baskets from sophomore Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) before senior Jordan Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) tacked on a three-pointer to give Belmont a 24-18 edge.
As defensive stops were strung together - Belmont held the Hatters to two made field goals the final 9:31 of the first half - the Bruins also strung together makes from behind the arc.
In total, the Bruins made four three-pointers in the final 1:49 of the first half, one each from sophomore Trevor Noack (Keller, Texas) and junior Drew Hanlen (St. Louis, Mo.) and two more from Campbell.
The final Campbell three-pointer beat the first half buzzer to complete a 24-7 Bruin run and lift Belmont to a 41-25 halftime lead.
Belmont shot 58 percent (14-for-24) in the opening 20 minutes - including 8-for-16 from three-point distance.
Though Stetson received stellar offensive play from Corey Walden early in the second half, Belmont was equally on target.
A three-pointer from Hanlen and a baseline finish from sophomore Brandon Baker (Milford, Ohio) off a Clark feed increased the Bruin lead to 54-35 with 15:46 left.
Five Clark points and a layin from freshman Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) highlighted a 13-2 Bruin spurt to stretch the margin to 67-41 with 8:42 to go.
Post players junior Mick Hedgepeth (Crossville, Ala.) and junior Scott Saunders (New Orleans, La.) would continue to rebound well through a somewhat ragged, uneven final five minutes.
All told, Belmont shot 46 percent (26-for-56) from the field - including 13-for-27 from three-point distance. Belmont outrebounded Stetson, 30-23, while forcing 18 Hatter turnovers.
Belmont had 20 assists on 26 made field goals.
Hanlen and Clark led four Bruins in double figures with 14 points each. Mann and Noack each scored 10.
Campbell had nine points, four assists and three steals, while Hedgepeth recorded eight points and nine rebounds.
Walden led Stetson (6-17, 4-8 Atlantic Sun) with 19 points.
With the victory, Belmont records its sixth 20-plus win season in the last eight years, reaching 20 wins faster than any other team in the program's NCAA era.
As for Byrd, he becomes one of 12 active head coaches in NCAA Division I men's basketball with 600 or more career victories:
- Mike Krzyzewski, Duke - 887
- Jim Boeheim, Syracuse - 847
- Jim Calhoun, Connecticut - 840
- Bob Huggins, West Virginia - 684
- Gary Williams, Maryland - 662
- Jerry Slocum, Youngstown State - 636
- Homer Drew, Valparaiso - 633
- Roy Williams, North Carolina - 629
- Bo Ryan, Wisconsin - 615
- Cliff Ellis, Coastal Carolina - 606
- Mike Montgomery, California - 605
- Rick Byrd, Belmont - 600
Byrd also becomes the 36th head coach all-time in NCAA Division I men's basketball with 600 or more victories (NOTE: NCAA record book stipulates a minimum of 10 years coaching at the Division I level to qualify).
Belmont (20-4, 12-1 Atlantic Sun) returns to action Thursday, Feb. 3 at Jacksonville. Tip-off is set for 6:15pm 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 available via ASun.TV.
NOTE: Byrd did not don his trademark sweater vest for the game, as he and his coaching staff wore polos, khakis and sneakers as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Awareness Weekend.
