Box Score EVANSVILLE, Ind. - - Belmont University men's basketball got career days from junior Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) and sophomore Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.), but were held off by Evansville, 93-88, Saturday afternoon.
Belmont looked to build off of Wednesday's emotional home opener victory over Western Kentucky, while Missouri Valley Conference preseason No. 2 (behind Wichita State) Evansville sought to continue early season momentum with its top seven scorers returning, including All-America candidates D.J. Balentine and Egidijus Mockevicius.
However, for a second straight year, the Bruins played the Purple Aces with a short deck.
Last season, Belmont was without leading scorer Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) and this go-round the Bruins were without post players Mack Mercer (Plymouth, Ind.) and Tyler Hadden (Cincinnati, Ohio).
But resolute and undeterred, the Bruins worked their halfcourt offense and consistently found high percentage shots..
Back-to-back layins from Bradshaw and Bradds gave Belmont an early 14-12 lead.
However, Evansville received solid complementary scoring to Balentine and Mockevicius.
After only making five total three-pointers in their first two games, the Purple Aces got long range shots from Jaylon Brown and Mislav Brzoja to lead 24-16 11 minutes in.
Meanwhile, the traditionally sharp-shooting Bruins would strangely miss their first nine three-point attempts before sophomore Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) rung the bell at the 8:03 mark.
A transition three-pointer from junior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) would get Belmont within 34-33, before Evansville closed the half on an 11-2 run.
After a Mockevicius slam and a Bruin rim out, Balentine would sink an impressive fadeaway 28-footer right before the first half horn to give Evansville a 45-35 lead at the break.
Belmont shot 47 percent (14-for-30) in the opening 20 minutes - but only 3-for-14 from three-point distance.
Bradds and Egekeze each had eight points at halftime.
Though Balentine would score 10 points in the first seven minutes of the second half, Belmont rode the courageous play of Bradds and Egekeze to stay well-positioned.
The two teams exchanged offensive haymakers, at one point combining on 10 consecutive made field goals midway through the half.
Belmont closed to 68-63 on a three-pointer from Barnette with 7:42 left, before Evansville responded with eight unanswered points.
Bradds continued his onslaught - this time scoring from beyond the arc - to again get Belmont within seven, 79-72, with 4:28 remaining.
Moments later, Belmont appeared to close within four points on a Luke three-pointer, but it was wiped off on a moving screen call on Egekeze.
Evansville answered with a second chance basket from Balentine and one Brown free throw.
Freshman Dylan Windler (Indianaplis, Ind.) sparked Belmont pressure defense and helped the Bruins get within 84-80 with 1:46 remaining.
And after some uneasy Purple Aces' passing and free throw shooting, the Bruins looked to get within one possession with 26 seconds remaining. But Brzoja rebounded a free throw miss to give Evansville a reprieve.
Mockevicius then added two free throws to extend the margin to 93-86 with 24 seconds to go.
All told, the Bruins shot 56 percent (35-for-63) from the field, including 64 percent in the second half. Belmont had 24 assists on 35 made field goals.
Moreover, Belmont shot a mind-blowing 26-for-33 (.788) from two-point field goal range, but was an uncharacteristic 9-for-30 from three-point distance.
Evansville went 25-for-38 from the free throw line, while Belmont was 9-for-13.
Bradds had a career-high 28 points on 13-for-13 shooting, and added 14 rebounds and four assists. Egekeze had a career-high 19 points.
Bradshaw had 13 points and seven assists, while Luke continued his fine point guard play with eight points and 10 assists.
Balentine led Evansville (3-0) with 27 points.
Belmont (2-2) returns to action Monday, Nov. 23 vs. South Alabama in Kennesaw, Georgia. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. CT.
