Box Score MOREHEAD, Ky. - - Behind 32 points and 10 rebounds from senior All-America candidate Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio), Belmont University men's basketball defeated Morehead State, 84-78, Thursday night.
Bradds went 12-for-18 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free throw line in leading the Bruins.
The host Eagles came out purposeful, as six points from DeJuan Marrero sparked Morehead State to an early 11-3 lead.
Sophomore Kevin McClain (Jennings, Fla.) provided a nice lift, as his two free throws and kickout assist to senior Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.) helped cut the margin to 16-14.
Bradds worked the Eagle frontcourt into foul trouble, and three more 3-pointers from Smith in a two minute span gave Belmont a 25-23 lead midway through the first half.
The lead seesawed back and forth before Bradds capped a 7-0 run to give the Bruins a 37-32 edge.
Despite baskets from sophomore Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) and junior Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.), an acrobatic baseline putback from Jordan Walker cut the Bruin lead to 43-42 at halftime.
Belmont shot 50 percent (14-for-28) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 6-for-14 from 3-point distance.
Bradds continued to deal inside, scoring five points in the first 1:20 of the second half to stretch the Belmont lead to six, 48-42, with 18:40 remaining.
But Xavier Moon replied with five points of his own in an impressive exchange of offensive fireworks.
After a wing 3-pointer from Windler, Marrero delivered two baskets to give the Eagles a 56-53 lead with 14:02 left.
Belmont answered with an 8-0 run - highlighted by hustle plays from junior Burton Sampson (Knoxville, Tenn.) which yielded a Smith basket along the baseline and denied a Morehead State scoring chance.
Junior Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) led the precision Belmont attack, providing pinpoint passes as Belmont maintained a working margin.
3-pointers from Smith and Luke gave Belmont a 75-65 lead with 6:34 to go.
Five Miguel Dicent points trimmed the margin to 78-72, but timely layins in the final two minutes from Windler and senior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) helped secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 53 percent (30-for-57) from the field - including 10-for-23 from 3-point distance.
Aside from Bradds' 32, Smith scored 24 and Windler added 14.
Xavier Moon led Morehead State (6-11, 2-2 OVC) with 18 points.
Belmont (10-4, 4-0) returns to game action Saturday, Jan. 14 at Eastern Kentucky. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. 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. In-game updates will be available via Twitter @BelmontMBB.
NOTES: Belmont has won nine of its last 10 games ... Belmont was +14 in points in the paint and +9 in points off the bench ... Smith followed up his 30-point performance Jan. 5 vs. UT Martin ... Luke has 57 assists in his last six games, and double figure assists in three straight games ... Bradds passed Adam Mark ('04) for fifth on Belmont's NCAA era scoring list; he has 1,605 career points.
