Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - - Behind balanced scoring and opportunistic defense, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Evansville, 72-63, Monday.
In their first game at the Ford Center since cutting the nets after winning the OVC Championship, the Bruins showcased poise and resolve in a gutsy road win.
"Extremely proud of our performance and our ability to respond to adversity," said Belmont head coach Casey Alexander. "We made tough plays down the stretch and for long stretches made it difficult for Evansville to score. Grayson (Murphy) and JaCobi (Wood) were tremendous finishing at the rim."
After scoring the game's first two field goals, Belmont endured a seven-minute dry spell in which the hosts scored 14 unanswered points.
However, from there, junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) capped a 15-2 response as Belmont took a 19-16 lead 14 minutes in.
Outstanding bench contributions from freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.) and sophomore EJ Bellinger (St. Peters, Mo.) pushed the run to 26-5 over nine minutes as the Bruins led 30-19.
Following a Bellinger wing 3-pointer, Shamar Givance banked a desperation 35-footer as the first half horn sounded to make the score 36-27 at halftime.
Belmont shot 54 percent (13-for-24) from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
Junior Luke Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) once again jumpstarted the Belmont offense with a 3-pointer to open second half scoring.
The Bruins rode strong inside finishes from Murphy, Wood and junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) to maintain a double figure lead.
However, free throws and the play of Samari Curtis kept Evansville within reach.
A Jawaun Newton basket got Evansville within 66-61 with 2:33 left.
Belmont would answer as Murphy found Smith along the baseline for a layin to increase the Bruin lead to seven.
Belmont made four free throws in the final 47 seconds to secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 55 percent (26-for-47) from the field and outscored Evansville, 44-16, in the paint.
The Bruins outrebounded Evansville, 33-21.
Wood led four Bruins in double figures with 18 points. Smith had 14, Muszynski 11 and Murphy 10.
Curtis led Evansville (2-4) with 19 points.
Belmont has won 20 of its last 21 games.
Belmont (8-1) returns to game action Wednesday, Dec. 30 vs. Murray State.
Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 14 of the last 15 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 19 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont is one of only six NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 10 consecutive seasons (BYU, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont is one of only six NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 15 consecutive seasons (Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State, San Diego State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 17 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence.
