Box Score RICHMOND, Va. - - Despite a spirited second half push, Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 75-65 decision at Virginia Commonwealth Saturday night.
In a matchup of two of the most decorated non-BCS programs of the last decade, Belmont and VCU were meeting for the first time.
The Bruins (Stanford) and Rams (Memphis) each had impressive early season victories and boasted two of the nation's top pressure defenses.
VCU once again packed the Stuart Siegel Center for the regionally-televised broadcast, making for an electric atmosphere for college basketball.
As expected, Belmont leaned on its senior backcourt of Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) and Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) to establish an early presence. With Johnson capably breaking the Ram 'Havoc' pressure defense and Clark pouring home four early baskets, Belmont led 11-9 six minutes in.
But after a steal and coast to coast layin from junior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) gave the Bruins a 15-13 lead, senior Trevor Noack (Keller, Texas) picked up a costly second personal foul with 11:15 left in the first half.
With Belmont's most dependable interior presence on both ends of the floor forced to the sideline to nurse fouls, the Bruins were dealt a tough blow.
Melvin Johnson capped an 8-0 VCU run with one free throw to give the hosts a 21-15 lead with 8:08 left in the half.
Clark replied in kind, with a sensational drive and conventional three-point play to cut the margin from six to three.
But just as Belmont seemed to settle back after the Clark drive, VCU elevated its pressure defense, taking advantage of Bruin turnovers and missteps.
Consecutive steal and scores from Johnson and Juvonte Reddic and two Rob Brandenburg free throws capped a seemingly unfathomable 18-0 VCU run and made the score 39-18 with six seconds left in the half.
Senior Brandon Baker (Milford, Ohio) banked home a 40-footer at the first half buzzer to make the score 39-21 at the break.
Belmont shot 47 percent (9-for-19) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including 1-for-9 from three-point distance. The Bruins, who averaged 13 turnovers per game going in, committed 17 first half turnovers.
Clark led Belmont with 11 first half points.
Belmont exhibited tremendous poise and resiliency in the second half, methodically working back into the game with spirited play.
The Bruins broke VCU pressure for layins from Jenkins, Johnson and Noack in the first two minutes of the half to get within 12.
Then following another Melvin Johnson floater, Noack sank consecutive shots and junior J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) added a baseline three-pointer to close the margin to 43-34 with 14:59 to go.
Two more three-pointers from Clark and a determined interior basket from Jenkins got Belmont within 50-44 with 13:27 left.
The Bruins had regrouped with championship form, and sent the home VCU crowd into puzzling glances.
But the relentless power and agility of Reddic and a putback basket from Brandeburg stretched the margin back to 58-46 with 11:59 remaining.
Noack would pick up his fourth personal foul with 6:17 left, and moments later Troy Daniels sank a three-pointer in transition to give the Rams a 66-53 lead with 5:56 left.
But once again, Belmont fought onward. More inspired, united defense – laden with deflections and bodies sprawled on the floor – got the Bruins energized. Three-pointers from Johnson and sophomore Reece Chamberlain (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) sandwiched around a Clark layin, all in a matter of 50 seconds, got Belmont within 66-61 with 4:46 left.
After an exchange of jumpers, Brandenburg would made a difficult three-pointer late in the shot clock to give VCU a 71-63 lead with 3:16 to go.
Johnson appeared to answer back for Belmont on a potential conventional three-point play, but his driving basket was wiped off the boards on an offensive foul call.
Brandenburg would tack on one free throw to increase the margin to nine, before Mann rimmed out a promising three-point look for the Bruins.
With 90 seconds left and scrambling for a turnover, Johnson lunged to deflect the ball downcourt as the shot clock wound down. But Treveon Graham raced back, picked up the ball, sped into the frontcourt, and sank a deep three-pointer as the shot clock expired to put VCU up 75-63 with 1:17 left.
Johnson would make a driving layin with 56 seconds left to provide the final margin.
All told, Belmont shot 54 percent (27-for-50) from the field – including 18-for-31 in the second half. The Bruins regrouped from the late portion of the first half to commit only seven second half turnovers.
Clark led Belmont with 24 points on a remarkable 10-for-10 shooting night. Johnson had 11 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.
Graham led VCU (5-3) with 19 points.
Belmont (5-2) returns to action Tuesday, Dec. 4 vs. Lipscomb. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center.
The game will be broadcast live on Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) and ESPN3. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the TV call, as well as 104.5 The Zone and the Bruin Sports Network.
