Box Score COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 89-79 decision at Tennessee Tech Saturday night.
The game lived up to advanced billing, with two of the nation's top 50 offenses playing exciting, free-flowing basketball.
Fans had to wait a bit, however, as a thrilling, double overtime contest in the Belmont-Tennessee Tech women's basketball game forced a nearly one hour delay in the scheduled tip.
Nevertheless, the teams traded early haymakers, as senior Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) hit Belmont's third three-point field goal of the opening four minutes to give the Bruins an 11-10 lead.
From there, junior Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.) buried four three-point field goals in less than three minutes to give Belmont a 28-22 lead with 6:58 left in the half.
After five quick points from Hakeem Rogers, freshman Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) answered with a baseline three-pointer.
Freshman Kevin McClain (Jennings, Fla.) provided a huge lift off the bench, but Tennessee Tech scored the final five points of the half to lead 39-36 at halftime.
Belmont shot 41 percent (13-for-32) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 10-for-22 from three-point distance. The Bruins forced eight Golden Eagle turnovers.
Smith led Belmont with 12 first half points.
Consecutive three-pointers from sophomore Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) gave Belmont a 42-41 lead with 18:10 remaining.
Egekeze sparked Belmont, as two more three-pointers from junior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) and a transition three-pointer from Bradshaw pushed the Bruin lead to seven, 51-44.
After Torrance Rowe trimmed the margin to three, two baskets from McClain sandwiched around a second chance basket from Windler gave Belmont a 64-55 lead with 11:17 left.
But after Belmont made six of its first seven three-point field goals to open the second half, the Bruins endured a cold spell at an inopportune time.
As the Bruins went scoreless for a three and a half minute stretch, Rogers capped a 10-0 Golden Eagle run to give the hosts a 65-64 lead.
Belmont regained the lead on a backdoor layin from Barnette, but Rowe answered with a 28-footer from near the Tennessee Tech bench.
Fouls hurt the Bruins, as the Golden Eagles worked into the bonus with 9:16 left in regulation.
Belmont would tie twice and close within 78-77 on a three-pointer from Barnette with 2:42 to go.
Then after a tough finish inside from Rogers, Belmont appeared to tie the game with 1:58 left on a baseline three-pointer from Bradshaw. However, as the ball went through the net, officials deemed Bradshaw to have touched the sideline.
A Ryan Martin basket and four Rowe throws helped Tennessee Tech build out the margin as the Bruins just could not find the range.
All told, Belmont shot 42 percent (28-for-67) from the field - including 17-for-45 from three-point distance.
After the hot start to the second half, Belmont made just one of its last 16 shots from behind the arc, and missed its final eight shots of regulation.
Barnette led five Bruins in double figures with 14 points.
Rowe led Tennessee Tech (16-7, 8-2 OVC) with 26 points.
Belmont (16-7, 8-1 OVC) returns to game action Thursday, Feb. 4 versus Morehead State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center. 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 threatened its NCAA Division I era single-game record for made three-point field goals (19), with 16 early in the second half, but the Bruins made only one in the final 14:10 of regulation ... 18 Belmont turnovers led to 19 Tennessee Tech points ... Bradshaw had a season-high eight assists ... The Bruins handed out 21 assists on 28 made field goals ... Tennessee Tech outshot Belmont, 33-7, from the free throw line ... Belmont outscored Tennessee Tech, 14-6, in second chance points ... Nine Bruins scored ... The game featured eight ties and 16 lead changes.
