Box Score CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 86-78 decision at Austin Peay Saturday.
With Austin Peay off to its best conference start in 16 years - and with its dynamic scoring duo of Terry Taylor and Jordyn Adams each recording 37 points last time out - Belmont prepared for one of the most efficient offenses in the OVC.
But early on, forward Eli Abaev was the story, scoring 12 points in the first seven minutes, nearly eclipsing his career-high in that span.
After falling behind 14-7 and receiving words of encouragement from head coach Casey Alexander, Belmont rode the play of sophomores Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) and Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) to reclaim the lead.
Sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) sank a baseline jumper in the final seconds of the half to give Belmont a 43-35 lead.
But Adams would hit a 65-foot shot as the first half buzzer sounded to trim the Belmont lead to 43-38 at halftime.
Belmont shot 60 percent (18-for-30) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 4-for-10 from 3-point distance.
Kunkel led Belmont with 11 first-half points.
Remarkably, Belmont held Taylor scoreless in the first half on 0-for-2 shooting.
Austin Peay carried the momentum of Adams' shot into the second half, as more contested perimeter shots from Adams and second chance baskets from Taylor pushed Austin Peay to a 13-2 run to start the second half.
To rub salt into Belmont's wounds, Austin Peay reserve forward Pavle Djurisic - who had played 92 minutes all season and was 2-for-10 from outside - made consecutive 3-pointers to turn a one-point advantage into a 57-50 lead.
An Abaev steal and score gave Austin Peay a 70-59 lead with 7:39 left.
But the Bruins fought on.
Graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) and senior Michael Benkert (Greenwood, Ind.) made consecutive 3-pointers to get Belmont within 70-67 with 5:49 left.
After Kunkel had a front end of bonus free throws rim out, Taylor and Abaev stretched the margin back to seven, 74-67, with 3:59 remaining.
Several momentum 3-pointers on clean looks dipped out for Belmont, as the Bruins simply could not string together stops and scores.
Hustle plays from Murphy got Belmont as close as four points down the stretch, but Austin Peay went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 1:06 of the game.
All told, Belmont shot 48 percent (31-for-64) from the field.
Murphy led three Bruins in double figures with a career-high 23 points and 10 assists. Scanlon had 18, while Kunkel scored 13.
Adams scored 24 points for Austin Peay (14-7, 8-0 OVC).
It marks the first time Belmont has dropped consecutive regular season conference games since Feb. 2015.; a span of 1,809 days.
Belmont (14-7, 5-3 OVC) returns to game action Thursday, Jan. 30 at Tennessee Tech.
