Box Score KINGSTON, R.I. - - Playing without senior All-America candidate Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio), Belmont University men's basketball took [23/25] Rhode Island to the limit before dropping an 82-73 decision Friday night.
Minus Bradds - and junior forward Mack Mercer (Plymouth, Ind.) - Belmont put together one of its most inspired performances in recent memory.
The host Rams feature a talented and balanced squad that is expected to contend for the Atlantic 10 championship.
Two quick baskets from junior Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) gave Belmont a 6-5 lead 2:36 in.
Belmont played poised and purposeful basketball throughout, executing Coach Byrd's plan to the letter.
Consecutive baskets from senior Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.) and junior Tyler Hadden (Cincinnati, Ohio) made the score 16-15 at the 10:50 mark.
After two Smith free throws, three straight baskets from Hassan Martin pushed the margin to 32-26.
Smith continued his stellar first half with a corner 3-pointer, but Rhode Island went on a timely 9-0 run in the final 2:56 of the half to lead 46-31 at the break.
It was a tough last sequence for the Bruins, who had played well enough to be within single figures at halftime.
Belmont shot 44 percent (11-for-25) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, earning 11 free throw attempts to Rhode Island's four.
Smith scored 14 first half points, while Martin had 19.
Two Egekeze fouls in the first 33 seconds of the second half dealt a blow to the Bruin comeback effort.
And behind the strong play of Jarvis Garrett, Rhode Island pushed the lead to 55-35 with 15:44 remaining.
It would have been so easy for the Bruins to use Bradds being in civilian clothes as an excuse, as an opportunity to pack it in and call it a night against a team with Final Four aspirations.
But in another example of the program head coach Rick Byrd has built, Belmont grew stronger and fought back into the game.
Sophomore Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) highlighted a 19-5 Belmont run, as his 3-pointer got the Bruins within 58-52 with 12:03 left.
But with the Rams in the bonus with 15:11 left in regulation - and Hassan Martin providing steady post production - Belmont was kept at arm's length.
Egekeze delivered two conventional 3-point plays in a two minute stretch to keep the Bruins within 69-60 at the 8:10 mark.
After a strong finish from sophomore Kevin McClain (Jennings, Fla.), Belmont went cold over a five minute stretch, rimming out a collection of promising, in-rhythm looks.
A floater from Kuran Iverson capped an 8-0 Ram run, before the Bruins drew up one final push.
Behind furious, extended pressure defense, Belmont closed within seven points - with a chance to get as close as five in the final minute - but uncharacteristically icy 3-point shooting kept the team from getting over the hump.
All told, Belmont shot 41 percent (25-for-61) from the field - but just 5-for-27 from long distance.
Smith led five Bruins in double figures with 17 points, while Windler added a career-high 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Egekeze had 12, while McClain and Hadden added 10.
Martin led Rhode Island (5-1) with 31 points.
Belmont (1-3) returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 29 vs. Lipscomb. 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 can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network and 104.5 The Zone.
NOTES: Belmont outscored Rhode Island 20-3 off the bench and 19-9 in second chance points ... Austin Luke handed out nine assists ... It was the Bruins' first game against a nationally-ranked team since the 2015 NCAA Tournament vs. Virginia ... In between, Belmont had played five teams receiving Top 25 votes ... Belmont held Rhode Island All-America candidate E.C. Matthews to six points on 1-for-6 shooting ... Bradds had only missed one previous game in his Belmont career (at South Dakota State, 12/14/13) ... Smith came within one point of his career-high 18 points (vs. Western Kentucky, 11/19/16).
