Box Score DENVER, Colo. - - Belmont University men's basketball fell, 90-62, late Tuesday night at Denver.
The Bruins, playing their fourth of six December games against teams that reached the 2013 NCAA Tournament or Postseason NIT, simply could not get things going against the formidable Pioneers.
Belmont was without starting point guard Reece Chamberlain (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) for a fourth consecutive game, and his presence and leadership were missed on both ends of the floor.
After a quick 4-0 start on scores from freshman Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) and senior J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga), two baskets from Dom Samac gave the Pioneers a 9-8 lead.
Five quick points from sophomore Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) pushed Belmont back ahead, before five points from Chris Udofia put Denver on top 14-11.
Two free throws from senior Drew Windler (South Milwaukee, Wisc.) got the Bruins within 19-17 midway through the first half, but Brett Olson capped a quick 8-0 Denver run to bump the margin to 10.
The Bruins rode Bradshaw and Bradds to close within 31-26 at the under four minute media timeout, but the Pioneers closed the half on a 14-4 run to lead 45-30 at halftime.
Belmont shot 55 percent (11-for-20) in the opening 20 minutes, including 2-for-7 from three-point distance. However, the Bruins committed an uncharacteristic 12 first half turnovers, many of them live-ball turnovers that sparked Denver fast breaks. In fact, the Pioneers scored an unthinkable 23 points off those turnovers, accounting for the halftime margin.
With visions of a memorable second half comeback along the lines of their stirring home-opening victory against Indiana State, the Bruins cobbled together scores and defensive stops.
Determined play from senior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) got Belmont within 46-36 with 17:46 remaining. Moreover, the Bruins forced five Pioneer fouls in the opening two and a half minutes of the second half, and were slowly working back into the game.
But after a Jenkins miss and a Bradshaw three-point rim out that would have gotten Belmont within single figures, Marcus Byrd capped a back-breaking 16-0 Denver run with a baseline three-pointer that made the score 64-38 with 13:19 left.
The Pioneers' torrid shooting coincided with unusually cold Belmont shooting.
All told, Belmont shot 42 percent (21-for-50) from the field - including 4-for-19 from three-point distance.
Bradshaw led Belmont with 18 points.
Udofia led Denver (5-5) with 21 points.
The Bruins (8-4) return to game action Saturday, Dec. 21 at [19/21] Kentucky. Tip-off is set for Noon ET/11 a.m. CT.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network and 104.5 The Zone. In-game updates will be available on Twitter @BelmontMBB.
NOTES: The setback marked the largest margin of defeat for the Bruins against a non-BCS opponent since an 87-57 setback at ETSU Jan. 19, 2009 ... Bradshaw continued his fine play, leading Belmont in scoring for a fourth time in the last seven games ... "They were about as good offensively as any team I can remember playing," Belmont head coach Rick Byrd said after the game. "We just need to go back, look at ourselves and use this to get better."
