Box Score CHARLESTON, Ill. - - Behind a game-high 23 points from senior All-America candidate Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio), Belmont University men's basketball defeated Eastern Illinois, 77-64, Wednesday night.
Belmont faced a talented and dangerous Panther team with inside and outside scoring potential.
Early on, the Bruins established strong halfcourt defense but had to withstand two banked-in perimeter shots from Eastern Illinois.
A driving slam from sophomore Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.) and a post basket from Bradds gave Belmont a 10-8 lead seven minutes in.
But more mysterious bounces off unified team defense characterized a 10-0 Panther run. Two Belmont deflected passes were regathered by the hosts and ultimately led to 3-pointers from Terrell Lewis as Eastern Illinois took an 18-10 lead midway through the first half.
From there, the Bruins held Eastern Illinois scoreless for nearly five minutes, getting major bench contributions from junior Burton Sampson (Knoxville, Tenn.) and senior Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.).
Two Smith free throws capped a 13-0 Belmont run to give the Bruins a 23-20 lead with 3:43 left in the half.
Seven points from junior Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) gave Belmont a 32-28 lead at halftime.
Belmont shot 46 percent (13-for-28) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 3-for-8 from 3-point distance.
Bradds led Belmont with 12 first half points.
Pinpoint passing from junior Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) sparked the Bruins to four consecutive 3-pointers in the first 2:48 of the second half - two each from senior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) and Egekeze - as the lead grew to 44-32 with 17:12 left.
Despite foul trouble from Windler, Belmont continued to execute offensively.
A 4-point play from Smith and a deep 3-pointer from Luke highlighted an 11-2 run as Belmont led 64-46 with 9:55 remaining.
Eastern Illinois closed within 64-57 on one free throw from Demetrius McReynolds, but four straight points from Luke pushed the Bruin lead back to double figures.
Bradds would provide Belmont's final nine points to secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 47 percent (25-for-53) from the field - including 11-for-19 from 3-point distance.
Bradds led three Bruins in double figures with 23 points. Barnette had 15 and Egekeze added 13.
McReynolds led Eastern Illinois (9-12, 1-7 OVC) with 20 points.
Belmont (14-4, 8-0 OVC) returns to game action Saturday, Jan. 28 at Tennessee State. Tip-off is set for 7:30 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 and 104.5 The Zone. In-game updates will be available via Twitter @BelmontMBB.
NOTES: Belmont has won 10 consecutive games and 13 of its last 14 ... Belmont has won seven consecutive road games ... Belmont committed only three second half turnovers ... Bradds has 148 points and 49 rebounds over his last six games ... With 1,697 career points, Bradds is one point shy of Craig Bradshaw ('16) for fourth place on the Bruins' NCAA scoring list ... Egekeze has double figures in eight of his last 10 games ... Sampson scored for the second time in three games.
