Box Score VALPARAISO, Ind. – In a tough environment against a solid mid-major opponent, the Belmont men's basketball team fell to Valparaiso 61-57 Thursday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Coming off a win against crosstown rival Lipscomb two nights earlier, the Bruins faced a stern test in a Crusader team that only had two losses in their first eight games.
The first half was a back and forth affair, with no more than a five point lead for either team. The Bruins got an early 7-4 lead on a layup by Evan Bradds. Valpo then went a 7-0 run to take an 11-7 lead at the 15 minute mark. They held the lead until the 5:30 mark, when Dylan Windler made a conventional three-point play to give BU the lead at 21-20. The lead would volley back and forth the next four minutes before Valpo's Shane Hammink hit a three pointer with 40 seconds left to give the Crusaders a 30-26 lead going into halftime.
The Bruins came out strong in the second half as Austin Luke hit back to back three pointers to give Belmont the lead at 32-30. BU kept the lead until a layup by Peters gave the Crusaders the 36-34 lead. After Kevin McClain tied the game at 36 with 16 minutes to go, Valpo scored the next four points to stretch their lead to four at 40-36.
The Bruins then went on a 7-0 run, capped by a rebound and putback by Mack Mercer, to take the lead at 43-40. After the Crusaders cut the lead to one at 43-42, the Bruins scored the four of the next five points to give them a four point lead at 47-43. Valpo cut the Bruin lead to one again at 49-48 on an Alec Peters three pointer, but Craig Bradshaw responded with a three of his own to stretch the lead back to four at 52-48 with 5:18 to go. However, the Crusaders went on a late 13-5 run late in the last five minutes, keyed by a Victor Nickerson three-pointer, to grab the lead and eventually a 61-57 victory.
Belmont had four players in double figures led by senior Craig Bradshaw's 12 points on 5 of 11 shooting. Junior Evan Bradds had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Sophomores Austin Luke and Amanze Egekeze each added 10.
Valparaiso (7-2) had two players in double figures: Alec Peters, who led all scorers with 17 points, and Keith Carter who added 14.
Belmont (5-4) returns to the court on Monday night as they play at Lipscomb. The game is set for 6:30pm in Allen Arena. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3/WatchESPN app or you can listen to the Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram on the Bruin Sports Network at BelmontBruins.com.
