Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 87-72 decision at Tennessee State Sunday afternoon.
It was a strange spot for the Bruins, who three days earlier had secured an eighth regular season conference championship in 11 years and a No. 1 seed in the 2016 OVC Basketball Tournament.
Meanwhile, the host Tigers on Senior Day found themselves incentivized, as victory would yield a single bye into the conference tournament quarterfinal round.
After falling behind 4-0, Belmont would hold Tennessee State without a field goal for a five minute stretch. Junior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) scored 12 points during a 15-1 Bruin run that gave Belmont a 15-5 lead six minutes in.
After freshman Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored inside to make the score 19-10, Tennessee State scored eight unanswered points, capped by a Tahjere McCall layin.
Sophomore Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) carried much of the Bruin offensive load late in the first half, as his confident shooting helped Belmont maintain a 36-33 lead at the 2:31 mark.
Tennessee State led 39-38 at halftime.
Belmont shot 55 percent (11-for-20) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 6-for-13 from three-point distance.
Barnette and Luke each had 12 first half points.
Junior Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) - who following his career-high 36 point performance versus Tennessee State on Jan. 24 drew two and three defenders at every turn - scored along the baseline to give the Bruins a 45-44 lead with 16:33 remaining.
Yet fouls accumulated for Belmont, as Tennessee State rode strong play from Keron DeShields and McCall to build a 58-50 advantage with 10:45 left.
Two free throws from sophomore Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) trimmed the margin to 62-60, but after a contested jumper from DeShields rimmed off, a wild carom went right to McCall for a second chance putback.
That sequence sparked a 9-0 Tennessee State response - capped by a Wayne Martin basket - that made the score 71-60 with 4:52 to go.
All told, Belmont shot 49 percent (23-for-47) from the field - including 13-for-32 from three-point distance.
The Bruins forced 16 turnovers.
Luke led three Bruins in double figures with 18 points. Barnette had 14, while junior Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.) scored 12.
DeShields led Tennessee State (20-9, 11-5 OVC) with 25 points.
Belmont (20-10, 12-4 OVC) returns to game action Friday, March 4 in the OVC semifinal round.
Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT from Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app. 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.
