BROOKINGS, S.D. - - Belmont University men's basketball returned to action following semester exams, dropping an 85-72 decision at South Dakota State Saturday.
Belmont had not played since its Dec. 3 victory at Middle Tennessee; the Bruins Dec. 11 game vs. Fairfield was postponed due to the Stags' inabaility to travel due to inclement weather.
Though Belmont guard
Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) returned after missing one game, the Bruins played without starting point guard
Reece Chamberlain (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) and freshman swingman
Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) due to injury.
Belmont got five early points from Bradshaw for an 8-6 lead, the Bruins' lone lead of the game.
Senior forward
Drew Windler (South Milwaukee, Wisc.) got two fouls in the first four minutes and was forced to sit the remaining of the first half to nurse fouls.
The game remained close through the first half, with SDSU leading 36-33 at halftime.
Bradshaw had 12 first half points to lead Belmont.
But SDSU made its first seven shots of the second half, taking a 59-43 lead with 13:09 left on a slam dunk from Cody Larson.
A three-pointer from Caleb Chowbay (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) got Belmont within 71-64 with 4:44 left, but SDSU went 10-for-14 from the free throw line in the final 4:10 to secure the outcome.
SDSU shot a season-high 57.4 percent from the field and 24-for-33 from the free throw line.
All five Jackrabbit starters scored in double figures.
Bradshaw led Belmont with 17.
SDSU has won 35 of its last 36 games at home.
Belmont (8-3) returns to play Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Denver. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. CT. The live play-by-play can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network, with in-game updates on Twitter @BelmontMBB.
