Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind 17 points from freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.), Belmont University men's basketball defeated Eastern Illinois, 79-66, Thursday.
Wood scored 16 of his team-high 17 points in the second half as Belmont rode active defense and a deep bench to seize control.
Belmont led 29-27 at halftime, and got four quick points from sophomore Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) to extend to a 36-30 lead with 19:05 left.
Strong defense and rebounding and freshmen Even Brauns (Iowa City, Iowa) and Frank Jakubicek (Cary, Ill.) enabled Belmont to work into an offensive rhythm.
And while timely 3-point shooting kept Eastern Illinois within range for a time, Wood took control.
After a Henry Abraham 3-pointer got Eastern Illinois within 48-46 with 12:48 remaining, Wood sparked an 18-3 run over the next six minutes.
A conventional 3-point play from Brauns and a 3-pointer from Sheppard gave Belmont a 74-54 lead with 4:58 left.
Belmont shot 65 percent from the field in the second half and forced 20 Eastern Illinois turnovers.
Belmont outscored Eastern Illinois, 50-32, in points in the paint.
11 Bruins scored.
Junior Luke Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored 12 points while junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) added 10.
Junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) had nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Sammy Friday led Eastern Illinois (5-9, 2-5 OVC) with 20 points.
Belmont has won 27 of its last 28 games and 21 consecutive conference games.
Belmont (15-1, 9-0 OVC) returns to game action Saturday vs. SIU Edwardsville.
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
