NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball opened the new year in fine form, defeating Jacksonville State, 78-67, in its OVC opener Thursday evening.
Belmont was back at home for the first time since Dec. 1, after a stretch of five consecutive road games against 2013 postseason teams.
The Bruins made their first four shots, including successive three-pointers from senior Drew Windler (South Milwaukee, Wisc.), senior J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) and sophomore Craig Bradshaw.
Bradshaw provided an electrifying backdoor slam on a feed from Windler to give the Bruins a 21-15 lead midway through the first half.
In fact, Belmont led by six points on four occasions in the first half, but foul trouble to Bradshaw and senior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) inhibited Belmont from breaking free.
Jacksonville State entered having won 7 of its last 11, and behind 10 first half points from Darion Rackley and a putback basket from Teraes Clemmons, the Gamecocks grabbed a 37-35 halftime lead.
Belmont shot 60 percent (15-for-25) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 3-for-6 from three-point distance. The Bruins also scored 20 points in the paint in the first half.
Jacksonville State extended to a 42-37 lead on a Jamal Hunter layin before Belmont strung together defensive stops and trademark offensive execution.
A baseline reverse layin from freshman Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) pushed the Bruins back in front, 47-46, with 16:00 remaining.
After Nick Cook got Jacksonville State within 49-48, a thunderous Jenkins slam and a conventional three-point play from Bradshaw highlighted a 9-0 Bruin run that gave the hosts a 58-48 lead with 10:42 left.
Belmont also picked up its defensive intensity and rebounding, turning stops into scores in transition. The Bruins maintained a double figure lead over the final 10 minutes of the game.
The Bruins threatened to break their NCAA era single-game record for team field goal percentage of 67.4 percent, before settling for 63.8 percent shooting (30-for-47).
Bradshaw paced five Bruins in double figures with 18 points. Mann added 16 points and three steals. Jenkins had 12 points, five rebounds, and a career-high six assists. Bradds and Windler each scored 10.
Rackley led Jacksonville State (7-10, 1-1 OVC) with 15 points.
Belmont improves to 12-1 lifetime in conference home openers (NCAA era).
The Bruins (9-6, 1-0 OVC) return to game action Saturday, Jan. 4 versus Tennessee Tech. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center.
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 on the OVC Digital Network. Live in-game updates will be provided on Twitter @BelmontMBB.
Belmont head coach Rick Byrd postgame quotes
"That was a big win for our team. I thought Jacksonville State came out strong and tough, I really like their team's effort. But I'm proud of how our guys responded, stayed patient, and stayed the course. Our execution on both ends was very good in the second half."
