Box Score CHENEY, Wash. - - Despite a career-high 30 points from sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio), Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 87-82 decision at Eastern Washington Tuesday.
A meeting between two preseason conference favorites - Belmont in the OVC and Eastern Washington in the Big Sky - predicated on uptempo, team basketball and 3-point shooting from all five positions presented compelling theatre.
Belmont roared out of the gates, with senior Michael Benkert (Greenwood, Ind.) capping a 7-0 run in the opening 84 seconds to prompt an Eastern Washington timeout.
From there, a seesaw affair would ensue, with 11 ties and nine lead changes.
Consecutive baskets from sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) and Muszynski gave Belmont a 27-22 lead with 6:55 left in the first half.
The Bruins would stretch the lead to six points twice more before Mason Peatling capped an Eastern Washington run which enabled the Eagles to take a 38-37 lead.
But a 3-pointer from sophomore Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) and a putback basket from graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) gave Belmont a 42-40 halftime lead.
Belmont shot 53 percent (17-for-32) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, and limited the Eastern Washington top scoring duo of Jacob Davison and Kim Aiken to only seven combined points.
But 10 first half turnovers hurt the cause.
In the second half, Belmont continued to establish Muszynski, who delivered efficiently with a myriad of post moves.
A Kunkel transition slam and a Murphy basket increased the lead to 51-44 with 17:29 remaining.
But just as the foundation of a working margin was being laid, Eastern Washington would respond.
First, it was five quick points from Casson Rouse that cut the margin to two points, before the reserve post brothers of Tanner and Jacob Groves provided a wave of offensive production midway through the second half to neutralize Muszynski's scoring.
Amidst the fast-paced, end-to-end action, there was a chaotic sequence early in the second half, where Eastern Washington point guard Ellis Magnuson was credited with a conventional 3-point play. After the official scorer and scoreboard operator had credited Eastern Washington with five points on the play, the teams resumed play for several minutes before the situation was resolved.
At one point Muszynski scored 11 consecutive points in a five-minute span as Belmont maintained the lead.
But Tanner Groves' eight-point outburst in a 64-second span tied the score at 65 with 10:10 left.
After a 3-pointer from junior Nick Hopkins (Fayetteville, Tenn.), Muszynski scored inside and Benkert hit a 3-pointer to equalize at 73.
Belmont limited the hosts to two made field goals the final 6:45 of regulation, but the Eagles worked their way to the free throw line for 11 attempts down the stretch.
A Davison transition basket gave Eastern Washington an 81-75 lead with 2:53 left.
Murphy answered with a cutting layin off a Muszynski feed before more Eastern Washington free throws pushed the margin back to six points.
Then Belmont got a clutch 3-pointer from Scanlon and another basket from Muszynski to get within one point, 83-82, with 1:24 to go.
After a defensive stop, Belmont head coach Casey Alexander anticipated heavy defensive attention on Muszynski and freed Hopkins for a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 49 seconds left. But the shot rimmed off and Eastern Washington secured the rebound.
Peatling would miss on the Eagles' next possession, and Murphy would be fouled while grabbing the long rebound.
As Eastern Washington's seventh team foul of the second half, Murphy had a bonus free throw opportunity to tie or give Belmont the lead with 21 seconds left. However, his front end of the 1-and-1 rimmed off, and Aiken made two free throws with 14 seconds left to make the score 85-82.
Belmont elected to go for a quick two-point field goal attempt, but Murphy's leaning runner rimmed off and Aiken would provide the final score with two more free throws.
All told, Belmont shot 53 percent (34-for-64) from the field - including 9-for-24 from 3-point distance. Belmont outrebounded Eastern Washington, 35-32.
Muszynski went 13-for-18 from the field and added seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
Scanlon had a season-high 17 points. Murphy and Kunkel each scored 10.
Peatling led Eastern Washington (4-2) with 17 points.
Belmont (4-3) returns to game action Saturday, Nov. 30 at Middle Tennessee.
