NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - In one of the wildest games in Curb Event Center history, Belmont University men's basketball rallied past, then outlasted Indiana State, 96-95, Thursday night.
Following opening road games against Lipscomb and Richmond, the Bruins were greeted by an energized and boisterous crowd and student section in the home opener.
With two of the most efficient and skilled offensive teams in the nation, a high scoring game was forecasted. But nobody could have imagined the roller coaster of emotions and huge swings of momentum that transpired.
Senior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored three interior baskets early as the Bruins and Sycamores played to six ties in the first seven and a half minutes.
But Indiana State used a 10-2 burst, capped by a Dawon Cummings three-pointer, to seize a 29-19 lead with 8:30 left in the half.
Two free throws from junior Reece Chamberlain (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) and a steal and score from sophomore Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) trimmed the margin to six, before the Sycamores responded.
Behind balanced scoring, and the confident play of Jake Odum and Khristian Smith, Indiana State closed the half on a 20-10 run to lead 49-33 at halftime.
Belmont shot 50 percent (10-for-20) from the field in the first half, but 11 turnovers stifled continuity. Meanwhile, Indiana State shot 57 percent from the field, including seven-three-pointers.
Smith led the Sycamores with 18 points at halftime.
Simply put, it was one of the most impressive halves of play turned in by a Belmont opponent in Curb Event Center history. The veteran Sycamores extinguished early excitement from the 'First On The Floor' festivities, and were firing on all cylinders.
But the Belmont program is built on fight, togetherness and pride. The Bruins were not about to go quietly into the night.
A fast start in the second half was required, and it materialized. Two baskets from Chamberlain and an emphatic steal and slam from Bradshaw quickly cut the margin to 10, 49-39, with 18:40 remaining.
After an Indiana State timeout and an exchange of scores, consecutive three-pointers from Bradshaw and freshman Caleb Chowbay (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) and a reverse layin by freshman Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) got the Bruins within 54-51 with 15:19 left.
In the first 4:41 of the second half, Belmont had outscored Indiana State 18-5 and completely flipped the script.
But the Sycamores steadied the ship, with Cummings' two free throws pushing the margin back to nine, 60-51.
The quality bench contributions continued for the Bruins, as junior Chad Lang (Marietta, Ga.) provided consistent post production - scoring on the block, drawing Sycamore fouls, and making free throws.
The enlivened Belmont defense spurred its offense, with rapid fire baskets from senior J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.), Chamberlain, and senior Drew Windler (South Milwaukee, Wisc.) tying the score at 64 with 9:53 left.
With the shot clock relegated obsolete, a Lang basket and a Mann steal and score lifted Belmont to a 68-66 lead with 8:45 to go, the Bruins' first lead since 13-12.
Odum tied the score at 70, before scores from Mann, Bradshaw and Windler pushed the Belmont lead to seven, 77-70, with 5:54 left.
Odum continued to keep Indiana State within reach, but Belmont continued to find success. Consecutive three-pointers from Windler gave Belmont its largest lead, 89-77, with 2:58 left and virtually ripped the roof off the Curb Event Center.
After a defensive stop, the Bruins appeared poised to work clock and secure the game from the free throw line. That is when things took yet another remarkable turn.
An unexpected 10-second violation on Chamberlain working the ball into the frontcourt gave possession back to Indiana State with 2:37 remaining. It ushered a mind-blowing stretch of Sycamore scores and clock stoppages that methodically crept the visitors back into the game.
A Smith steal and layin trimmed the margin to 89-83 with 1:47 left.
A defensive stop and three free throws seemed to reassert Belmont control at 92-83 with 55 seconds remaining, but Bob Cousy Award candidate Odum continued to steamroll his way to the basket with reckless abandon.
After a conventional three-point play and one Windler free throw, Dawon Cummings buried a baseline three-pointer to get Indiana State within 93-89 with 34 seconds left.
After Mann made one of two free throws, Odum would again convert a conventional three-point play amidst Bruin fans' growing concerns to make the score 94-92 with 21 seconds left.
Windler would push the score back to a two possession game with 15 seconds left, before the roll of Sycamore expotential scoring continued. Smith buried a deep corner three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to make the score 96-95.
On the ensuing inbounds pass, a swarm of Sycamore defenders forced Mann into a jumpball with 5.9 seconds left. Indiana State was awarded possession on the arrow.
So having gone from down 16, to up 12 with two and a half minutes left, to now needing a defensive stop to win the game, the Bruins buckled down and survived.
Cummings would understandably find Odum, who drove the lane. Jenkins held his ground and forced Odum to lose the handle momentarily. As the two teams battled for possession, the horn sounded and the Bruin bench erupted in celebration.
All told, Belmont shot 60 percent (31-for-52) from the field - including 66 percent in the second half. After 11 first half turnovers, the Bruins commited just five in the second half. The Bruins also went 29-for-36 from the free throw line.
Mann led six Bruins in double figures with 23 points and six rebounds. Windler added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Chamberlain had a career-night of 16 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
Bradshaw had 11 points, four assists, and four steals, while Lang scored a career-high 10.
Smith led Indiana State (1-1) with 28 points.
The Bruins scored 63 second half points, one off the Curb Event Center single-half scoring record (64, vs. Campbell 1/2/06)
Belmont has won 21 consecutive home games, the second-longest active home court win streak in the nation (Marquette, 27). The Bruins have also won 42 of their last 43 home games.
Belmont (2-1) returns to action Sunday, Nov. 17 at No. 12/11 North Carolina. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU, with the live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram on the Bruin Sports Network.
Belmont head coach Rick Byrd postgame quotes
"I had the guys poorly prepared in the first half, we just didn't have a rhythm. I didn't really say much at halftime. It was more about effort, executing and getting into the game defensively."
"Indiana State is so hard to guard, especially Odum, that it took a team effort. The first five minutes of the second half were huge for us to work back into the game. The crowd and our student section were fantastic and really had an impact on the game."
