CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - - In a breathtaking offensive performance, Belmont University men's basketball defeated OVC West favorite Southeast Missouri, 107-94, Thursday night.
The Bruins, who remarkably also scored 107 points against the Redhawks a year ago in victory in Nashville, put together one of their finest offensive games in recent memory.
And with two of the highest scoring teams in the OVC, an uptempo affair was forecasted. But few could have predicted the extent of high quality, end-to-end action that would materialize.
Focused and engaged, Belmont scored on its first six possessions of the game, capped by a layin by senior J.J Mann (Smyrna, Ga.).
Southeast Missouri got an equally hot start from swingman Josh Langford, who scored the Redhawks' first 11 points of the game.
After Southeast Missouri closed to within 19-18 on a basket from Tyler Stone, Belmont pushed back to a 29-22 lead on a three-pointer from senior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.).
Stone and Darrius Gray would reply, before thunderous dunks from Jenkins and sophomore Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) and another Jenkins three-pointer gave Belmont a 45-36 lead with 5:43 remaining in the half.
With the scoreboard operator working feverishly and the shot clock relegated obsolete, the Bruins maintained balanced scoring and appeared poised to stretch out to a double figure lead.
But at 52-44, rare rim outs from Bradshaw and senior Drew Windler momentarily halted momentum. Stone and Gray helped trim the margin to 52-50 with 39 seconds left, before junior Reece Chamberlain (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) buried a timely three-pointer on the final possession to give the Bruins a 55-50 lead at the break.
When the dust settled from the entertaining first half, Belmont shot 65 percent (22-for-34) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 9-for-15 from three-point distance. But the Redhawks were also impressive, shooting 63 percent in the first half and sporting no less than four double figure scorers at halftime.
Jenkins scored 19 first half points to lead Belmont.
Notions of a slower paced second half were quickly dismissed as Jarekious Bradley and Bradshaw ripped consecutive three-pointers for each team.
Three-pointers from Mann and sophomore Jeff Laidig (Mishawaka, Ind.) increased Belmont's lead to 74-65 with 12:44 remaining.
But each time Belmont appeared poised to break free, Southeast Missouri had a reply. In addition to conventional scores, Lucas Nutt, Nino Johnson, and Langford each received fortuitous bounces on perimeter shots in the second half to keep the Redhawks within arm's reach.
But rather than get deflated, the Bruins were emboldened.
After more strong play from Stone got the hosts within 77-74, freshman Caleb Chowbay (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) and Mann answered with deep three-pointers to stretch the Bruin advantage back to nine, 83-74, with 9:13 left.
Bradley carried the Southeast Missouri scoring torch down the stretch, but the Bruins' unselfish, precision offense maintained a working margin. Seven Mann free throws and a layin from freshman Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) comprised a late 9-0 run that pushed the margin to 107-89 with 1:41 remaining.
All told, Belmont shot 63 percent (38-for-60) from the field – including a season-high 17-for-26 from three-point distance. The Bruins handed out 21 assists and committed only six turnovers.
Mann led five Bruins in double figures with 25 points, 23 coming after halftime. Bradshaw had 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Jenkins added 19, while Windler scored 12 with a career-high six assists, and Bradds 10.
Bradley led Southeast Missouri (8-8, 0-3 OVC) with 27 points.
Belmont returns to game action Saturday, Jan. 11 at UT Martin. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CT.
The game will be broadcast live on the OVC Digital Network. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network. In-game updates will be available on Twitter @BelmontMBB.
