Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - - Behind 30 points and 11 rebounds from junior Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio), Belmont University men's basketball defeated Jacksonville State, 72-63, Thursday night.
The game pitted the top two three-point shooting teams in the Ohio Valley Conference, with the Bruins and Gamecocks averaging double figure treys per game in league play.
Strangely, however, the teams would combine on just 10-for-42 shooting from behind the arc, as defense and points in the paint became the story.
After a Jared Hamilton basket opened scoring, Belmont proceeded to hold the hosts scoreless over the next 6:35. Meanwhile, the Bruins exhibited great patience offensively, working for passing angles for Bradds inside.
A layin from freshman Kevin McClain (Jennings, Fla.) made the score 11-2 four and a half minutes in.
Jeremy Watson would end the Gamecock scoring drought before a three-pointer from JaQuail Townser gave Jacksonville State a 14-13 lead.
With the score tied at 20, Belmont proceeded to keep Jacksonville State off the scoreboard for another stretch of three and a half minutes as freshman Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) capped an 8-0 run.
In fact, Windler's baseline three-pointer with 37 seconds left helped Belmont close the half on a 20-8 spurt.
Belmont led 37-26 at halftime.
Belmont shot 57 percent (16-for-28) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 3-for-12 from three-point distance.
Behind Bradds' 14 first half points, the Bruins were +16 in the paint through one half of play.
Two more field goals from Bradds - off assists from senior Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) - increased the lead to 41-26 with 17:01 left.
Meanwhile, junior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) did strong work chasing around Jacksonville State sharpshooter Erik Durham, who entered play having made 15 three-point field goals over his previous three games.
Two baskets each from Bradshaw and sophomore Mack Mercer (Plymouth, Ind.) preserved a double figure lead.
A Greg Tucker three-pointer got Jacksonville State within 50-45 at the 11:07 mark, but seven more points from Bradds pushed the Belmont lead back to 59-46.
Bradshaw then added a conventional three-point play and a baseline three-pointer to make the score 69-55 with 3:21 left.
Jacksonville State never got closer than eight.
All told, Belmont shot 54 percent (29-for-54) from the field, while holding Jacksonville State to 38 percent shooting.
Bradds, the nation's field goal percentage leader, went 12-for-15 from the field, after going 12-for-14 from the field en route to a career-high 36 points Jan. 24 versus Tennessee State.
Bradshaw had 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Tucker led Jacksonville State (8-16, 4-5 OVC) with 15 points.
Belmont (16-6, 8-0 OVC) returns to game action Saturday, Jan. 30 at Tennessee Tech. Tip-off is set for 7:30 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 nine straight games ... Belmont has won six of seven meetings with Jacksonville State in OVC play ... Bradds has 73 points and 38 rebounds in his last three games versus Jacksonville State ... Bradds has recorded a double-double in nine of his last 12 games ... Belmont outscored Jacksonville State, 48-20, on points in the paint.
