NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University's men's basketball returns to game action following semester exams Tuesday versus Evansville.
The Bruins defeated Middle Tennessee, 63-59, Dec. 2. Sophomores Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) and Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.) led Belmont with 15 points each.
Belmont redshirt senior Holden Mobley (Nashville, Tenn.) and Evansville redshirt sophomore David Howard were high school teammates at Nashville Montgomery Bell Academy. Mobley and Howard led MBA to the 2010 Tennessee DII-AA State Championship over Memphis Christian Brothers.
The state of Indiana has been an essential part of the Bruin program. In addition to current Bruins Spencer Turner (Bloomington), Jeff Laidig (Mishawaka) and Mack Mercer (Plymouth) hailing from the Hoosier state, all three incoming Class of 2015 players are from Indiana: Seth Adelsperger (Peru), Michael Benkert (Greenwood), and Dylan Windler (Indianapolis).
Belmont junior Craig Bradshaw (12th) and Evansville junior D.J. Balentine (24th) rank among the Top 25 scorers in the nation.
Belmont and Evansville have two of the most efficient offenses in the country, going about their business differently. Both rank in the Top 40 nationally in scoring offense, with Belmont ranking 11th in three-point field goal attempts and Evansville 336th. Conversely, Evansville is 37th nationally in two-point field goal reliance.
This marks the second meeting between Belmont and Evansville. Belmont won at Evansville, 92-76, in the 2009 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. 2009 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year Alex Renfroe led four Bruins in double figures with 29 points. In Belmont circles, the game became known as 'The Jonny Rice Game' - as the reserve guard from Naperville, Ill. scored a career-high 15 points off the bench.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center.
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 and 104.5 The Zone. In-game updates will be available on Twitter @BelmontMBB.
Game Notes - Evansville at Belmont
