Box Score
MURRAY, Ky. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 85-75 decision at Murray State Thursday night.
The latest installment of one of college basketball's top rivalries once again lived up to advanced billing, with high drama and tremendous competition.
Belmont used strong defense and rebounding to lead 35-31 at halftime, and stretched the margin to nine, 44-35, with 17:32 remaining on a 3-pointer from sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.).
But Murray State worked into the bonus early in the second half, and methodically scored with efficiency from inside and outside.
After a 3-pointer from graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) made the score 53-46 with 12:57 left, a quick burst from DaQuan Smith pushed the Racers to a 55-54 lead.
The game featured nine ties and eight lead changes, with neither team leading by more than one possession until a KJ Williams 3-pointer made the score 65-61 with 6:03 remaining.
A post basket from sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) and a steal and score from freshman Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) tied the score at 65 with 4:26 to go.
Murray State proceeded to get an acrobatic score from Tevin Brown and a 3-pointer from Jaiveon Eaves to push the margin back to five.
The Bruins would get within three points twice more, but a backbreaking 3-pointer from Brown at the end of the shot clock gave Murray State a 79-72 lead with 51 seconds left.
Belmont shot 45 percent (29-for-64) from the field - including 12-for-29 from 3-point distance.
Murray State, which entered play averaging six made 3-point field goals per game, went 12-for-21 from behind the arc.
After Belmont limited the Racers to two free throw attempts in the first half, Murray State took 21 free throws after halftime.
Kunkel led Belmont with 23 points. Muszynski had 19 points and nine rebounds while Scanlon had 12.
Brown led Murray State (14-5, 7-0 OVC) with 24 points.
The Bruins had won the previous two meetings at Murray State.
Belmont (14-6, 5-2 OVC) returns to game action Saturday, Jan. 25 at Austin Peay. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CT.
