Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind a season-high 21 points from freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.), Belmont University men's basketball defeated UT Martin, 89-69, Saturday.
Wood scored 18 second-half points as Belmont turned defense into offense to secure its ninth consecutive win.
A 3-pointer from junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) gave Belmont a 34-26 lead with 3:11 left in the first half.
But behind second-chance points and timely 3-point shooting, UT Martin closed within 38-34 at halftime.
The teams exchanged scores to open the second half, with an Eden Holt 3-pointer closing the margin to 52-49 with 14:04 remaining.
Belmont rode the energy plays of junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) and instant offense of sophomore EJ Bellinger (St. Peters, Mo.) to fuel a decisive 18-0 run midway through the second half.
Wood scored eight points during the run, and when the dust settled following a coast-to-coast Bellinger layin, Belmont led 70-49 with 9:35 left.
Belmont shot 59 percent from the field in the second half and forced 16 UT Martin turnovers.
Muszynski had 11 while Bellinger and freshman Even Brauns (Iowa City, Iowa) each added 10.
Murphy had nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Anthony Thomas led UT Martin (3-6, 1-4 OVC) with 21 points.
Belmont and Gonzaga are the only two programs in America to win 24 of their last 25 games.
Belmont (12-1, 6-0 OVC) returns to game action Thursday, Jan. 14 at Tennessee Tech.
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
