Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind 27 points from junior Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio), Belmont University men's basketball defeated Lipscomb, 93-84, Monday night.
The Bruins, who completed a rigorous pre-exam schedule with eight of their first 10 games away from home, scored 11 of the first 15 points and led virtually wire to wire.
A three-pointer from sophomore Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) and one free throw from freshman Kevin McClain (Jennings, Fla.) gave Belmont a 27-17 lead less than 10 minutes in.
But the Bruins then endured a rare four minute scoring drought as Lipscomb closed within four points.
Two Bradds free throws and a layin from sophomore Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) stretched the margin back to eight, 31-23, at the 6:03 mark.
But sparked by the bench contributions of Garrison Mathews and Eli Pepper, Lipscomb closed within 40-36 at halftime.
Belmont shot 54 percent (15-for-28) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 4-for-13 from three-point distance.
Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) led Belmont with 11 first half points.
After Lipscomb seized a brief 49-48 lead with 15:45 left on a Nathan Moran three-pointer, Bradds and senior Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) sparked a 15-6 Bruin run. A twisting Bradshaw three-pointer and a floater from freshman Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) increased the lead to 63-55 with 11:00 remaining.
The host Bisons would close within five points three times, but the Bruins answered each time.
Two McClain free throws and five points from Bradds pushed the advantage to 10, 80-70, with 3:57 to go.
Luke would complete the key 7-0 run with a driving layin.
All told, Belmont shot 57 percent (32-for-56) from the field - including 61 percent in the second half.
Bradds went 9-for-10 from the field and 9-for-9 from the free throw line, adding eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Bradshaw added 19 points, while Luke had 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
Josh Williams led Lipscomb (3-8) with 21 points.
Belmont (6-4) returns to game action Tuesday, Dec. 15 versus Ouachita Baptist. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center. 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: Belmont has now won nine consecutive games in the 'Battle of the Boulevard' series with Lipscomb, the longest series streak of the NCAA Division I era ... Bradshaw and fellow senior Jeff Laidig (Mishawaka, Ind.) will complete their Belmont playing careers undefeated against Lipscomb ... Belmont also won eight straight games in the series from 1967-71 ... Bradds entered play second in the nation in field goal percentage (.732) and is now .748 after going 9-for-10 ... Luke entered play sixth in the nation in assists per game (7.2) and added eight more ... Windler continued his fine stretch of play with eight points, seven rebounds and two steals to earn Player of the Game honors from Coach Byrd ... Belmont outscored Lipscomb, 46-24, in the paint.
