Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds from junior Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) and 24 points and 13 rebounds from senior All-America candidate Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio), Belmont University men's basketball defeated Jacksonville State, 77-60, Thursday night.
Belmont was scoreless the opening 3:32 before a deep 3-pointer from junior Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) got the Bruins going.
Five quick points from sophomore Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) gave Belmont an 8-6 lead before junior Burton Sampson (Knoxville, Tenn.) tacked on a wing 3-pointer.
Bradds capped a 7-0 run to give the Bruins a 23-16 lead with 6:28 left in the first half.
Both teams showcased strong defense and rebounding, with points being well-earned.
Five points from Egekeze - followed by big plays off the bench from freshman Michael Benkert (Greenwood, Ind.) - made the score 35-24.
A Malcolm Drumwright conventional 3-point play trimmed the margin to eight at halftime.
Belmont shot 43 percent (13-for-30) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 7-for-19 from 3-point distance.
The Bruins also held a +4 rebounding advantage at the break.
Jacksonville State got within 40-33 with 16:48 left, but Egekeze made four 3-pointers in the first nine minutes of the second half to push the Bruin lead to 57-38.
And as Bradds continued his efficient play inside on 11-for-16 shooting, Belmont held the visiting Gamecocks without a 3-point field goal until 5:06 remaining in the game.
Egekeze made six of Belmont's 12 3-point field goals.
All told, Belmont shot 44 percent (26-for-59) from the field - including 12-for-34 from 3-point distance.
Egekeze and Bradds combined on 50 points and 23 rebounds.
Norbertas Giga and Ashton Spears led Jacksonville State (12-9, 4-2 OVC) with 10 points each.
Belmont (12-4, 6-0 OVC) returns to game action Saturday, Jan. 21 vs. Tennessee Tech. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. CT from the Curb Event Center. The game will be broadcast on American Sports Network and simulcast on 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 tallied seven blocked shots and 34 defensive rebounds ... The Bruins held Jacksonville State to 36 percent shooting ... Belmont is 84-6 in its last 90 home games ... Egekeze's previous career-high was 20 points at UT Martin (1/21/16) ... Bradds has 115 points and 60 rebounds in his last five games vs. Jacksonville State.
