NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball defeated Tennessee State, 73-71, Thursday night as the program honored former All-American and current Utah Jazz guard Ian Clark.
The Bruins were without the services of senior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) - the fourth Belmont player in the team's top six to miss action this season.
The Bruins held Tennessee State scoreless the opening 3:14, building a 6-0 lead.
After Patrick Miller got the Tigers within 9-7, Belmont proceeded to score 16 of the next 19 points. Riding the shooting of senior J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) and freshman Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.), Belmont extended to a 25-10 lead nine minutes in.
But much like the meeting at Tennessee State Jan. 18, the Tigers methodically worked back into the game behind the play of all-conference guard Miller.
Belmont led 37-33 at halftime.
Belmont shot 48 percent (14-for-29) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 5-for-13 from three-point distance. The Bruins forced nine TSU turnovers.
A three-pointer from Jay Harris gave Tennessee State a 41-39 lead with 16:22 remaining.
But four points from sophomore Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) and a Mann three-pointer pushed the Bruins to a 48-41 advantage with 12:45 left.
But each time Belmont appeared poised to build a working margin, the Bruins would rim out promising shots and Tennessee State would find a reply.
Nevertheless, a Bradshaw layin made the score 66-56 with 5:42 left. But, Tennessee State pushed on. A conventional three-point play from Harris trimmed the margin to 67-65 with 2:46 to go.
Junior Reece Chamberlain (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) would make a baseline jumper with 2:27 left to push the lead back to four.
After Miller answered with two free throws, the Bruins would have an empty offensive trip.
In need of a defensive stop, sophomore Jeff Laidig (Mishawaka, Ind.) provided a timely steal inside on M.J. Rhett to give possession back to Belmont with 1:27 remaining.
Chamberlain would be fouled on a drive attempt, and make both free throws with 1:13 left to make the score 71-67.
Harris would miss a long two-point shot with 58 seconds remaining, and Mann grabbed the defensive rebound.
After using some clock, Bradshaw drove the lane and rimmed out a layin with 28 seconds to go. Tennessee State quickly worked into the frontcourt, with Miller missing a contested drive.
But Kennedy Eubanks' tip-in got the Tigers within 71-69 with 20 seconds left.
Belmont wisely turned to Mann on the subsequent inbounds play. In fact, Miller would foul out with 18 seconds remaining, going for a steal on Mann.
Mann made both free throws to give Belmont a 73-69 lead.
Tennessee State would miss three straight contested, desperation attempts before Rhett scored inside with one second left.
The Bruins inbounded downcourt to Bradshaw and the horn sounded to end the game.
All told, Belmont shot 47 percent (27-for-58) from the field - including 8-for-23 from three-point distance. The Bruins forced 15 turnovers.
Mann led three Bruins in double figures with 21 points. Chamberlain added a career-high 19 points and six assists. Bradshaw had 10.
Miller led Tennessee State (3-24, 2-11 OVC) with 23 points.
Belmont (20-8, 11-2 OVC) returns to game action Thursday, Feb. 20 versus Eastern Illinois. 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 and 104.5 The Zone. In-game updates will be available on Twitter @BelmontMBB.
NOTES: With the victory, the Bruins have won 20-plus games in nine of the last 11 seasons ... With the victory, seniors Mann and Jenkins hold the Bruins' NCAA era record for most wins in a career with 103, passing the 2013 class of Clark, Kerron Johnson, Trevor Noack, Brandon Baker, and Adam Barnes ... Chamberlain has 54 assists over his last nine games ... Rhett tied the Curb Event Center record with 19 rebounds.
