Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind 16 points from senior Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.), Belmont University men's basketball defeated Morehead State, 73-67, Thursday night.
With three of the previous four meetings in the series decided in the final seconds, another intense, emotional game was expected. It was that, and more.
Ragged play plagued the Bruins early, as Morehead State's lively defense showed up from the opening tip.
Marked by nine lead changes in the first eight minutes, two darting drives from freshman Kevin McClain (Jennings, Fla.) and a layin from junior Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) gave Belmont a 17-16 lead.
Though McClain's early spark would be halted by two personal fouls, a three-pointer from sophomore Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) increased the lead to four.
Eight straight points from sophomore Mack Mercer (Plymouth, Ind.) helped maintain the lead, as Belmont established a strong presence in the paint.
Lyonell Gaines would tie the game at 29, before five straight points from Bradshaw gave the Bruins a 36-30 lead at the 3:39 mark.
Belmont worked its way into the bonus, but two misses on front end of 1-and-1 free throw opportunities hurt momentum.
Nevertheless, consecutive three-pointers from Bradshaw gave Belmont a 44-35 lead at halftime.
Belmont shot 67 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 6-for-11 from three-point distance. The Bruins were plus-eight on points in the paint in the first half.
Bradshaw led Belmont with 15 first half points.
Layins from junior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) and sophomore Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) extended the lead to 48-35 with 18:14 remaining.
Determined drives and slams from McClain and Egekeze preserved a double figure lead.
But behind the play of Corban Collins and Brent Arrington, Morehead State closed within 57-56 with 8:43 left.
But Barnette answered with a timely baseline three-pointer on the next Bruin possession.
After Xavier Moon trimmed the margin to two, a pair of Egekeze free throws and a Windler slam helped push the advantage back out to 68-60 with 2:45 left.
Belmont held Morehead State scoreless for three minutes before a DeJuan Marrero tip-in with 2:18 remaining.
Belmont endured uncharacteristically poor free throw shooting - 15-for-27 for the game - and an unsettling sequence that saw a Collins three-pointer with 44 seconds left rattle out, one that could have closed the Eagles within two.
But four Bruin free throws in the final 33 seconds helped secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 57 percent (25-for-44) from the field - including 8-for-20 from three-point distance. The Bruins limited Morehead State to 39 percent shooting.
Bradshaw led five Bruins in double figures with 16 points. Barnette had 14 points, while Egekeze had 11. Bradds added a 10th double-double in his last 14 games, with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Mercer added 10 points and two blocked shots.
Collins led Morehead State (12-10, 6-4 OVC) with 20 points.
Belmont (17-7, 9-1 OVC) returns to game action Saturday, Feb. 6 versus Eastern Kentucky. Tip-off is set for 5 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.
NOTES: Belmont has won an NCAA-best 35 consecutive conference home games and has won 76 of its last 80 at home overall ... Belmont limited Morehead State to six points off turnovers ... Luke handed out eight assists ... Belmont outscored Morehead State, 19-16 in bench points ... Belmont, No. 1 in the nation in two-point field goal percentage, was 17-for-24 from inside the arc.
