Box Score KENNESAW, Ga. - - Behind balanced scoring and stingy defense, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Kennesaw State, 80-55, Tuesday evening to win the Legends Classic subregional championship.
Despite drawing understandable attention after making 27 of 28 field goals over his last two games, junior Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) continued to lead the Belmont offensive attack.
Sophomore Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) buried two three-pointers in the opening three minutes to give the Bruins an early 11-6 lead.
A three-pointer from freshman Kevin McClain (Jennings, Fla.) and an offensive rebound putback by freshman Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) made the score 20-15 at the 1:22 mark.
But a basket by Aubrey Williams and a three-pointer from Yonel Brown gave Kennesaw State a brief 23-22 edge.
Following a Rick Byrd timeout, Belmont went on a 11-2 run - capped by a three-pointer from senior Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) - to seize a 33-25 lead.
The Bruins held the host Owls without a field goal the last 5:32 of the first half, as a Bradds basket and a three-pointer from junior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) pushed the Bruin lead to 41-29 at halftime.
Belmont shot 52 percent (16-for-31) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 9-for-21 from three-point distance.
Belmont handed out 11 assists on 16 made field goals.
After Kennesaw State closed within 41-33 with 18:59 remaining on a Nick Masterson jumpshot, Belmont responded with a decisive 14-2 spurt. Consecutive three-pointers from Bradshaw and sophomore Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) pushed the margin to 20, 55-35, with 15:54 left.
The Bruins forced Kennesaw State into contested perimeter shots, and did commendable work on the backboards.
A Bradds layin and seven straight Egekeze points made the score 65-43 with 11:17 remaining.
The Belmont bench sealed the deal, with sophomore Tyler Hadden (Cincinnati, Ohio) adding seven points down the stretch.
All told, Belmont shot 54 percent (32-for-59) from the field - including 13-for-32 from three-point distance. The Bruins outrebounded Kennesaw State, 43-33. and held the Owls to 33 percent shooting, 29 percent in the second half.
Bradds, Bradshaw and Egekeze each scored 17 points for Belmont. Bradds was named Tournament MVP, while Egekeze was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Yonel Brown led Kennesaw State (1-4) with 14 points.
Belmont (4-2) returns to game action Saturday, Nov. 28 at BYU. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on BYUtv. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on Bruin Sports Network.
NOTES: Belmont has now won four consecutive subregional exempt tournament championships (2015 Legends Classic, 2013 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off, 2011 Maui Invitational, 2010 NIT Season Tip-Off) ... Bradds is 35-for-39 from the field over his last three games ... Belmont improves to 13-2 versus Kennesaw State, with the previous 14 meetings coming during the Atlantic Sun Conference days (2005-12) ... Windler had a career-high six rebounds ... Egekeze has scored in double figures in four straight games ... Luke had nine assists.
