Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball defeated Tennessee State, 82-73, Friday night in the semifinal round of the 2013 OVC Basketball Championship.
A tough, hotly-contested game was anticipated between the two Music City schools in the Bruins' first OVC Tournament game. The contest featured five all-OVC players – including Belmont seniors Kerron Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) and Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) – and each delivered strong performances for their teams.
The Bruins made five of their first six shots in seizing an early 10-7 lead. But after two Clark free throws tied the score at 12, Belmont endured a six minute scoring drought. Tennessee State took advantage, taking a 21-12 lead on a driving layin from Patrick Miller.
Yet despite the early adversity, Belmont remained poised; showing the resiliency and defensive toughness that led them to a regular season championship.
Behind the leadership of Johnson and active team defense, Belmont swung momentum in its favor. A coast-to-coast basket by junior J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) and one Johnson free throw capped an 11-0 Belmont run that gave the Bruins a 28-25 lead with 2:37 left in the first half.
And despite Clark picking up a second personal foul with 5:18 left in the half, the Bruins carried a 32-29 lead at halftime.
Belmont shot 36 percent (12-for-33) in the opening 20 minutes – including an uncharacteristic 0-for-10 from three-point distance. The Bruins forced 13 Tiger turnovers and held a plus-one rebounding edge.
Johnson led Belmont with 11 first half points.
The late half surge carried into the second half, as two Johnson free throws, a basket from senior Trevor Noack (Keller, Texas) and another Mann steal and score pushed the Belmont lead to 38-29 with 18:12 remaining.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Clark stretched the lead to 48-37, but Robert Covington kept Tennessee State alive with an impressive scoring flurry of his own.
After Covington trimmed the margin to six points, Clark buried another three-pointer off an assist from sophomore Reece Chamberlain (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) to make the score 59-50 with 11:52 remaining.
Kellen Thornton took the scoring baton from Covington, as seven straight points and a Miller layin got the Tigers within 63-59 with 7:45 left.
But again, Clark provided a deep wing three-pointer off a Chamberlain assist to increase the Bruin edge back to seven.
After three points from Thornton, Belmont got one Johnson free throw and a determined drive from Noack to lead 69-62 with 3:46 left.
But each time Tennessee State got within reach, Belmont provided an answer. A driving score from Johnson and a backdoor layin from Mann gave Belmont a 73-66 lead with 2:28 to go.
Leading by five points with 1:10 left, Belmont got strong transition defense from Mann and senior Brandon Baker (Milford, Ohio) to deny Thornton inside. Johnson then added one free throw and a steal and score basket with 36 seconds left to give Belmont a 76-68 lead.
The Bruins went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 45 percent (27-for-60) from the field – including 7-for-14 from three-point distance in the second half. The Bruins forced 21 Tennessee State turnovers.
Clark led four Bruins in double figures with 26 points – 20 in the second half. Johnson had 23 points, seven assists and three steals, while Mann added 13 points, six rebounds and four steals.
Junior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Thornton led Tennessee State (18-14) with 22 points.
Belmont (25-6) returns to action Saturday in the OVC Championship, against the winner of Eastern Kentucky and Murray State. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT from Nashville Municipal Auditorium.
The game will broadcast live on ESPN2. 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.
NOTES: Belmont has won seven consecutive conference tournament games and is 17-2 in conference tournament games since 2006 … Belmont had 13 steals … Belmont scored 36 points in the paint … Clark made six three-pointers in the second half … Belmont has won 12 games away from home this season, among the NCAA leaders.
