Box Score Postgame Quotes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Short-handed Belmont University men's basketball fought valiantly, before dropping an 81-68 decision to No. 24 VCU Sunday.
A boisterous crowd welcomed the Rams to Nashville - the first-ever nationally-ranked team to play in the Curb Event Center.
And Belmont gave its supporters plenty to cheer about early, as three-pointers senior Drew Windler (South Milwaukee, Wisc.) and sophomore Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) within the first minute of play pushed the Bruins to a 6-0 lead.
Windler would bury another wing three-pointer before VCU closed to 9-8 on a JeQuan Lewis conventional three-point play.
But six straight points from determined senior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) and a short jumper from freshman Caleb Chowbay (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) increased Belmont's lead to 20-10 five and a half minutes in.
The end to end action continued as a baseline layin from freshman Evan Bradds made the score 23-11 with 12:23 left in the half.
Belmont had managed the VCU HAVOC pressure early and attacked for scores, while being strong on the backboards.
But as the half progressed, the Rams depth and relentless defense yielded dividends.
A steal and score from Treveon Graham got the visitors within 26-23, before junior Holden Mobley (Nashville, Tenn.) answered with a tough finish in the paint.
Jenkins would pick up his second personal foul at the 7:13 mark, forcing him to the Belmont bench. That would hinder the Bruin momentum.
And while Chowbay and Bradds helped Belmont maintain a modest lead, a three-pointer from Graham gave the Rams their first lead at 34-33.
Moments later, Juvonte Reddic and Bradshaw would collide at full speed while pursuing a loose ball in front of the Bruin bench.
Both men stayed down for several minutes with each eventually coming to his feet after attention from respective trainers.
Reddic would return, but Bradshaw would not.
Without the dynamic shooting guard who earned OVC co-Player of the Week honors Monday - and already without the services of starting point guard Reece Chamberlain (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) - the Bruins' rotation was severly altered.
VCU led 38-35 at halftime.
Belmont shot an impressive 57 percent (13-for-23) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 6-for-9 from three-point distance. The Bruins also were virtually even with VCU on the glass. But 14 first half turnovers led to 10 Ram points.
Chowbay scored two baskets to open the second half before a straight-on Windler three-pointer tied the score at 42 with 17:16 left.
The tide shift continued amidst stingy Bruin defense, as a Jenkins score and four more Windler points stretched the Belmont lead to 50-44 with 12:55 remaining.
Chowbay missed a clean look that would have bumped the lead to nine, before consecutive three-pointers from Melvin Johnson and Lewis tied the score at 50.
Then after senior J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) had a promising three-pointer rattle out, Johnson again drained a baseline three-pointer to put VCU ahead with 10:47 remaining.
As Belmont shots rimmed off, VCU capped the scoring run with a Briante Weber floater to lead 66-52 with 7:03 remaining.
A Mann trey got the Bruins within nine with 4:55 left, but VCU - which had endured icy free throw shooting in the early season - went 16-for-18 from the charity stripe to secure the outcome.
All told, Belmont shot 45 percent (25-for-56) from the field - including 11-for-27 from three-point distance. The Bruins committed only seven second half turnovers against VCU, the NCAA-leader in turnover margin and steals.
Jenkins and Mann led five Bruins in double figures with 14 points each. Windler added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Chowbay scored a career-high 12. Bradds had 10 points and five assists.
Reddic led VCU (6-2) with 18 points.
Belmont (7-2) returns to action Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Middle Tennessee. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT from the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The game will be carried live on MyTV30 in the Nashville market, but Belmont fans are encouraged to make the short trip and support the team.
The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network. Live in-game updates will be available on Twitter @BelmontMBB.
NOTES: The setback snaps Belmont's NCAA-leading 23-game home court win streak...Missouri now holds the active mark...This was only the second home loss for Belmont dating back to the 2009-10 season...The Bruins have won 45 of their last 47 at home...With a three-pointer in the second half, Mann became the 13th Belmont player in the NCAA era to go over 1,000 career points...This was the third television production for the Bruin Sports Network in the last two seasons...VCU is the first of seven consecutive postseason teams from 2013 on the December schedule for Belmont...Coach Byrd complimented VCU, Coach Smart and the Belmont and Nashville communities for the well-attended game...The announced crowd of 4,811 is the third-largest non-Lipscomb attendance in Curb Event Center history, behind only the inaugural sellout against Vanderbilt and the 2013 ESPN Bracketbuster game vs. Ohio.
