Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 88-78 decision to Eastern Kentucky Saturday.
The outcome snaps Belmont's NCAA-best streak of 35 consecutive conference home victories - including 29-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference. 1,492 days passed since the Bruins' last conference home loss, Jan. 6, 2012.
The game pitted two of the nation's top shooting teams, with Belmont fourth and Eastern Kentucky ninth nationally in effective field goal percentage, which accounts for two-point and three-point field goal attempts.
The Bruins looked to build off of Thursday's emotional victory over Morehead State.
Early three-pointers from senior Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) and junior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) gave Belmont a 6-5 lead three minutes in.
But as Belmont missed 10 of its first 12 shots from behind the arc against the Colonel halfcourt zone, Eastern Kentucky found its stride.
Javontae Hawkins, building off of his 36-point performance at Tennessee State Thursday, scored 14 points in the first eight minutes as Eastern Kentucky claimed a 20-8 lead.
Belmont could not argue with its looks in the first 10 minutes, but the unusually cold shooting start put the Bruins in comeback mode.
After a conventional three-point play from Jarelle Reischel increased the margin to 13, Belmont finally got going on a three-pointer from freshman Kevin McClain (Jennings, Fla.) and two putback baskets from junior Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.).
A Bradshaw three-pointer capped a 10-0 Belmont run to trim the margin to three, 30-27, with 4:16 left in the half.
But six points from Reischel and a twisting layin from Hawkins gave Eastern Kentucky a 40-32 lead at halftime.
Belmont shot 42 percent (13-for-31) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including just 6-for-21 from three-point distance. Nine Bruin turnovers in the first half hurt the cause.
Five quick points from Bradshaw got Belmont within 44-37 with 17:14 remaining. But Ja'Mill Powell replied with a three-pointer of his own.
Thereafter, Belmont held Eastern Kentucky scoreless for four and a half minutes, closing within 47-46 on two Smith free throws.
But Eastern Kentucky, whose previous four OVC losses were by a total of 15 points, answered back.
A basket from Anthony Pratt and three-pointers from Jaylen Babb-Harrison and Isaac McGlone pushed the Colonel lead back to 55-48 with 11:19 remaining.
In fact, the Bruins caught fire themselves - with Bradshaw, Barnette and Smith burying consecutive treys in a 71-second span.
However, Eastern Kentucky would hit five straight three-pointers during the same stretch, the last of which from Paul Jackson made the score 69-59 with 7:13 to go.
Belmont got within six points on four occasions down the stretch, but Eastern Kentucky staved off every push.
The Colonels went 15-for-20 from the free throw line in the final 4:43 of regulation.
All told, Belmont shot 42 percent (27-for-65) from the field - including 14-for-42 from three-point distance. Eastern Kentucky shot 54 percent from the field for the game.
Bradshaw led three Bruins in double figures with 20 points. Smith scored a season-high 15 points and added a career-high six rebounds. Barnette had 12.
Hawkins led Eastern Kentucky (14-12, 5-6 OVC) with 24 points.
Belmont (17-8, 9-2 OVC) returns to game action Wednesday, Feb. 10 versus Jacksonville State. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center. The game will be broadcast on the 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 outscored Eastern Kentucky, 32-27, off the bench ... Belmont handed out 16 assists on 27 made field goals ... Bradds had 12 rebounds for his 14th double figure rebound game of the season ... Eastern Kentucky's 31 made field goals is two off the opponent Curb Event Center single-game record ... With the setback, Stephen F. Austin now holds the mark for longest stretch of consecutive conference home victories.
