Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Sophomore Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored with under one second remaining to cap a remarkable second half comeback as Belmont University men's basketball defeated Lipscomb, 64-62, Tuesday night.
The Bruins have now won 10 consecutive games over Lipscomb, the longest-win streak in the storied history of the Franklin American Mortgage Battle of the Boulevard series.
Belmont, welcoming the return of senior All-America candidate Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) - who missed Friday's game at [23/25] - sought to regain the form from its convincing home opening victory over Western Kentucky.
But from the opening tap, Lipscomb showcased the toughness and resolve embodied by fourth year head coach and former Belmont player, Casey Alexander.
The Bisons' confounding defense took Belmont completely out of its typical rhythm, leading to a disjointed start.
Despite foul early points from Bradds, Lipscomb rode Garrison Mathews to a modest lead.
After a 3-pointer from junior Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) got Belmont within 26-21 at the 6:35 mark, the Bisons would hold the Bruins scoreless over the next four minutes.
One Kenny Cooper free throw extended the Lipscomb lead to 33-21.
A Rob Marberry basket and an empty Belmont possession sent the Bisons to the locker room up 13, 37-24.
It was a first half box score to send to the shredder - Belmont shot 34 percent (8-for-23) from the field and committed 11 turnovers. Meanwhile, Lipscomb shot 50 percent from the field and had only two giveaways.
Belmont's predicament only worsened as a Nathan Moran 3-pointer and a Mathews bucket pushed Lipscomb's advantage to 42-24 with 18:55 left.
Three points from Bradds and a Windler offensive rebound basket stabilized things momentarily.
Then, in the lone hot shooting window of the evening, senior Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.) and Luke strung together three triples in a 90 second span to get Belmont within six, 46-40, with 14:57 remaining.
But as quickly as the burst came, it then left, as Belmont made just two field goals over the next eight minutes, mysteriously rimming out clean looks.
But the Bruins rode impassioned defense and rebounding to stay within striking distance.
Five straight points from Bradds and a basket from junior Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) got Belmont within 53-52 with 5:29 remaining.
The drama and intensity only grew from there, as score would be within one possession until the final horn.
A strange sequence took place leading into the under-four media timeout, as Belmont junior Burton Sampson (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Lipscomb's Aaron Korn got tangled up battling for a loose ball.
Though both players took a spill, Sampson was charged with a loose ball foul, awarding Lipscomb free throws.
So instead of Belmont having a chance to reclaim the lead, Korn made both free throws to push the Bisons' edge back to three.
Following two Smith free throws, a tip-in basket from Marberry gave Lipscomb a 60-57 lead with 2:16 left, before a driving basket from Bradds cut the margin to one.
Then after a forcing a Mathews turnover, senior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) was called for a charging foul with 1:33 remaining, thwarting a chance to go back in front.
But after another Belmont defensive stop, Bradds found Barnette cutting to the basket for a gorgeous back door connection and a 61-60 Belmont lead with 45 seconds left.
After a near traveling violation by Marberry and a Lipscomb timeout, Egekeze tipped away a post feed to create a turnover.
Luke was then fouled, and proceeded to make one free throw to extend the lead to two, 62-60, with 17 seconds left.
From there, Lipscomb worked into the frontcourt, found Marberry in the lane, and the sophomore scored a lefty hook shot with 2.8 seconds remaining to tie the score at 62.
But as both teams scrambled back downcourt, Bradds quickly lofted a deep baseball pass to Windler, who snared it out of the air near the Bruin lane, power dribbled, and scored on the right side with 0.8 seconds remaining.
Mass hysteria ensued, as Lipscomb did not get off a final shot attempt.
The boisterous Belmont student section erupted, celebrating - what for most of the night was - a seemingly improbable victory.
All told, Belmont shot 40 percent (23-for-57) from the field - including 6-for-30 from 3-point distance. The Bruins outrebounded Lipscomb, 41-32, and forced 12 second half turnovers.
Bradds led three Bruins in double figures with 24 points. He added nine rebounds and a career-high six assists.
Luke scored 13. Smith added 10.
Marberry led Lipscomb (2-6) with 24 points.
Belmont (2-3) returns to action Saturday, Dec. 3 at Pepperdine. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on TheW.TV. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network.
NOTES: Belmont led for 1:56 ... Belmont and Lipscomb, traditionally two of the nation's leaders in 3-point field goals made per game, combined to make just seven on 46 attempts ... Belmont's six made 3-pointers were the fewest in a single game since making four vs. Morehead State (2/14/15) ... Coach Byrd commended Lipscomb, Coach Alexander and Marberry after the game, stating "Lipscomb probably deserved to win the game" ... Marberry's 11 made field goals were one shy of the opponent Curb Event Center single-game record (12, Kevin Tiggs, ETSU) ... Belmont had won the previous nine Lipscomb games by an average margin of 19.8 points per game ... The last time Belmont won on a shot with under one second remaining was at Ohio (11/29/14) on Craig Bradshaw's buzzer-beater, as part of his Belmont NCAA era single-game record 42 points.
