Box Score EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - - Belmont University men's basketball led from start to finish in defeating SIU Edwardsville, 94-75, Wednesday night.
Looking to build upon momentum gained from its recent four-game homestand, Belmont came out purposeful and active.
Seven early points from senior J.J. Mann (Smyrna, Ga.) and stingy defense sparked the Bruins to a 15-4 lead seven minutes in.
10 quick points off the bench from Tim Johnson enabled the hosts to settle in, before Belmont reasserted control.
Another Mann basket and a tip-in from sophomore Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) made the score 30-19 with 7:08 left in the half.
More strong inside play from freshman Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) and a memorable three-pointer from Mann on a baseline out-of-bounds play increased the margin to 39-21 with 5:05 left in the half.
A putback basket from freshman Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.) gave Belmont a 48-32 halftime lead.
Belmont shot 57 percent (20-for-37) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 4-for-14 from three-point distance. Belmont forced nine turnovers and held a 23-12 advantage on the backboards.
Mann had 19 first half points.
Kris Davis capped a 10-2 SIU Edwardsville run to open the second half, closing the Cougars within 50-40 with 17:41 left and prompting a Rick Byrd timeout.
But consecutive baskets along the baseline from Bradds stretched the Belmont lead back to 14.
Smith continued to provide nice bench production, as his three straight three-pointers over a 2:13 span made the score 67-48 with 11:42 remaining.
Donivine Stewart and Johnson would try to keep SIU Edwardsville within reach, but the all-around play of junior Reece Chamberlain (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) and the inside play of Bradds kept the Cougars from getting any closer than 13.
All told, Belmont shot 57 percent (35-for-62) from the field – including 8-for-25 from three-point distance. The Bruins handed out 20 assists, scored 55 points in the paint, and outrebounded SIU Edwardsville 38-25.
Mann led four Bruins in double figures with 25 points and six rebounds. Bradds scored a career-high 20 points on 10-for-11 shooting, while Chamberlain added 18 points, six rebounds and nine assists.
Smith had a career-high tying 11.
Tim Johnson led SIU Edwardsville (11-18, 7-8 OVC) with 18 points.
Belmont (22-8, 13-2 OVC) returns to game action Saturday, Mar. 1 at Jacksonville State. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. CT.
The game will be broadcast 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.
NOTES: With 25 points, Mann passed Kerron Johnson ('13) for fifth place on the Bruins' NCAA era scoring list ... Mann has 1,400 career points ... Belmont had 36 bench points, the third-most in a game this season ... Bradshaw had six rebounds, six assists and four steals.
