Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind career outings from sophomore Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) and junior Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio), Belmont University men's basketball defeated Tennessee State, 103-95, Sunday afternoon.
Though Mother Nature pushed things back one day, little could detract from a compelling matchup of the OVC's two remaining unbeatens.
The storylines were many - Belmont's top-ranked offense and Tennessee State's top-ranked defense and coaching institution Rick Byrd in his 30th year at Belmont matching wits with rising star and 31 year old Dana Ford - as the Bruins looked to build off of Thursday's complete performance at UT Martin.
The Bruins held Tennessee State scoreless the opening 2:45, as baskets from Luke, Bradds and junior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) gave Belmont a 7-0 lead.
Consecutive three-point field goals from Luke and sophomore Mack Mercer (Plymouth, Ind.) increased the lead to 22-9 at the 13:36 mark.
In fact, Belmont made its first five three-point field goal attempts - including three from Luke - to race out to a 30-11 lead nine minutes in.
And though senior Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) picked up two early fouls, the Bruins rode strong defensive rebounding and unselfish play to keep control.
A dynamic three-point play from freshman Kevin McClain (Jennings, Fla.) and baskets from Bradds and sophomore Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) made the score 43-19 with 5:13 left in the half.
Strong play from Keron DeShields helped Tennesee State close within 55-39 at halftime.
Belmont shot 65 percent (21-for-32) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 5-for-11 from three-point distance. The Bruins were plus-three on the backboards and committed only five first half turnovers.
Bradds led Belmont with 17 first half points.
Bradds and DeShields carried their scoring duel into the second half, with the Tigers clawing within 64-53 on a Tahjere McCall conventional three-point play.
But moments later, McCall was whistled for his fourth personal foul, forcing the impactful point guard to the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Belmont's own point guard - Luke - continued his confident play. The sophomore scored eight straight points to stretch the lead to 80-58 with 11:12 remaining.
Both teams worked into the bonus early in the second half, leading to a parade to the free throw line.
A slick Luke to Bradshaw connection and a Bradds layin pushed the Bruins' lead to 23, 88-65, with 8:30 left.
In fact, Bradds would score 15 of Belmont's final 21 points.
McCall continued to attack the basket, as his free throws with 59 seconds remaining proved to be the first time Tennessee State was within single figures since the 14:13 mark of the first half.
All told, Belmont shot 58 percent (36-for-62) from the field - including 9-for-24 from three-point distance.
Bradds led five Bruins in double figures with a career-high 36 points. Bradds went 12-for-14 from the field - to help regain the NCAA field goal percentage lead - and 12-for-16 from the free throw line. He added 11 rebounds for his 17 career double-double, eighth in his last 11 games.
Luke also tallied his first career double-double with a career-high 20 points and 10 assists.
Barnette added 12, while Bradshaw and McClain each scored 10.
DeShields led Tennessee State (14-5, 5-1 OVC) with 33 points.
Belmont (15-6, 7-0 OVC) returns to game action Thursday, Jan. 28 at Jacksonville State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on 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 won an NCAA-best 34 consecutive conference home games and has won 75 of its last 79 at home overall ... A myriad of records fell in this high-scoring affair, including most combined points (198), combined free throws attempted (75) and total fouls (57) in Curb Event Center history ... Bradds' 36 point effort is two points shy of Belmont's Curb Event Center single-game scoring record of 38 points (Alex Renfroe, vs. Jacksonville (2/28/09) ... It is also the most points by a Bruin since Craig Bradshaw's 42-point performance at Ohio (11/29/14) ... As fate would have it, DeShields (33) and McCall (32) each eclipsed the previous opponent single-game scoring record at the Curb Event Center (30, Kevin Tiggs ETSU, 1/17/08) ... Tennessee State's 46 free throw attempts also set an opposing team Curb Event Center record ... Belmont's 55-point first half was a season-high, and against a Tennessee State team that averaged allowing only 67 points per game ... Belmont has scored 100 or more points in a game 18 times in the NCAA Division I era ... Belmont has won the last six meetings with Tennessee State, and 13 of the last 14 dating back to the Bruins' transition to NCAA Division I.
