NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - In an uncharacteristically frigid shooting performance, Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 80-69 decision at Tennessee State Thursday.
As was the case in the Jan. 19 meeting between the Bruins and Tigers, Belmont started strong. A slam dunk by junior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) and two three-pointers from junior J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) gave Belmont a 10-4 lead three and a half minutes in.
Then after two more Jenkins baskets, a tip-in from senior Brandon Baker (Milford, Ohio) and a driving basket from senior Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.), the Bruins pushed the lead to 18-8 with 11:47 left in the half.
However, the lead could have been even greater, as Belmont forced 10 TSU turnovers in the first 10 minutes. But promising scoring opportunities just rimmed off for the Bruins during the stretch.
In fact, Belmont entered play seventh in the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage (.407), shooting a healthy 45 percent clip from behind the arc in OVC play. Yet after Mann's opening three-pointers, clean, in-rhythm looks were just off.
Nevertheless, strong halfcourt defense kept Belmont to a modest lead. Consecutive Clark layins made the score 24-19 with 4:13 left in the half. An offensive rebound score from senior Trevor Noack (Keller, Texas) gave Belmont a 28-23 lead with under one minute in the half, before an unfortunate string of circumstances turned the tide.
Patrick Miller made a straight-on three-pointer with 55 seconds left to get TSU within two. Then after Noack had a 15-footer dip in-and-out, Robert Covington made a baseline three-pointer to give the Tigers a 29-28 lead, their first lead since 2-0. Moments later, senior Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) drove the lane but his shot with six seconds left rimmed out, giving TSU a final chance. Miller scored a reverse layin as the first half buzzer sounded to give the Tigers a 31-28 halftime lead.
Belmont shot 38 percent (12-for-32) in the first half – including 2-for-12 from three-point distance. The Bruins outrebounded TSU, 20-13, and only surrendered one offensive rebound in the opening 20 minutes. Both teams committed 12 first half turnovers.
Belmont found a bit of an offensive rhythm early in the second half, but periodic communication breakdowns defensively enabled TSU to score and maintain a working margin. A steal and coast to coast layin from Baker got Belmont within 39-36 with 16:30 left, before Miller answered with a wing three-pointer.
Three straight baskets from Kellen Thornton gave TSU its largest lead, 48-40, with 12:09 remaining. Five points from Mann got Belmont within 48-47 with 9:42 remaining.
But fouls mounted for Belmont, with TSU working into the bonus with 8:50 to go. And the host Tigers demonstrated why they entered the night at 76 percent from the free throw line in league play.
Seven Covington points made the score 57-50 with 7:36 left. But a Jenkins tip-in and two Johnson free throws capped a 9-2 Bruin run to tie the score at 59 with 5:18 remaining.
Against pressure Belmont defense, forward M.J. Rhett drove 40 feet and scored at the rim to put TSU back on top. Then after a Jordan Cyphers layin and a missed front end of the one-and-one by Johnson, Covington made two free throws to increase the margin to 65-59 with 3:57 left.
Noack drained a deep three-pointer with 3:18 left to cut the deficit in half, but the Bruins just could not get over the hump. Baskets from Tashan Fredrick, Miller and Thornton staved off Belmont's final push.
TSU went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 48 seconds.
All told, Belmont shot 45 percent (29-for-65) from the field – including 5-for-26 from three-point distance, the team's lowest single-game three-point shooting percentage since Jan. 11, 2010. The Bruins forced 18 turnovers, but TSU went 21-for-24 from the free throw line.
Johnson and Noack each scored 16 points. Mann had 13, while Clark and Jenkins each added 10.
Covington led TSU (15-11, 9-4 OVC) with 25 points.
Belmont (20-6, 11-2 OVC) returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 20 at Eastern Illinois. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT.
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. Live video streaming will be available via the OVC Digital Network. In-game updates will be provided via Twitter @BelmontMBB.
NOTES: Clark, the NCAA leader in three-point field goal percentage (.512) was 0-for-7 from three-point distance ... It marked just the second time this season Clark went without a three-point field goal in a game (Jan. 3 at Jacksonville State) ... The result snapped Belmont's seven game win streak against TSU.
