Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind 24 points from senior All-America candidate Evan Bradds (Jamestown Ohio) and a career-high 23 points from sophomore Dylan Windler (Indianapolis, Ind.), Belmont University men's basketball defeated Southeast Missouri, 87-75, Saturday night.
Windler went 9-for-10 from the field - including 5-for-6 from 3-point distance - and added four rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
Belmont claimed its fifth consecutive win over the Redhawks in as many tries, but the visitors provided a stern challenge.
A William Tchiengang layin gave Southeast Missouri a 25-15 lead with 7:27 left in the first half, but Belmont responded with a 12-0 run - capped by a Bradds conventional 3-point play.
The game was tied at 36 at halftime.
Belmont shot 52 percent (13-for-25) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 6-for-15 from 3-point distance. But 10 first half turnovers hurt the cause.
Junior Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) erupted for 12 points in the first 5:43 of the second half to push Belmont's lead to 56-48 with 14:17 left.
Southeast Missouri tied the score at 61 on two Trey Kellum free throws, but six straight Bruin points - highlighted by a Windler steal and coast to coast score - put Belmont ahead to stay.
Junior Austin Luke (Rowlett, Texas) delivered a timely wing 3-pointer to make the score 75-63 with 5:08 to go.
All told, Belmont shot 59 percent (30-for-51) from the field - including 13-for-28 from 3-point distance.
Aside from Bradds' 24 and Windler's career night, senior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) had 18 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Egekeze added 15.
Antonius Cleveland led Southeast Missouri (6-12, 1-2 OVC) with 24 points.
Belmont (9-4, 3-0 OVC) returns to game action Thursday, Jan. 12 at Morehead State. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT.
NOTES: Belmont has won eight of its last nine games ... Belmont is 83-6 in its last 89 home games, and 33-1 in OVC games at the Curb Event Center ... Bradds has 1,573 career points, one shy of Adam Mark ('04) for fifth on the Bruins' NCAA era scoring list ... Luke has 47 assists in his last five games.
