Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind a season-high 21 points from Luke Smith, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Bethel (Ind.), 115-86, Saturday from the Curb Event Center.
Smith led six Bruins in double figures.
Even Brauns had a career-high 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals as Belmont established a new Curb Event Center single-game scoring record.
Bethel (Ind.), a perennial nationally-ranked NAIA school coached by Belmont Hall of Famer Steve Drabyn, made six of its first eight shots - including four from 3-point distance - to lead 20-10 five minutes in.
But opportunistic defense and the inside presence of Brauns allowed Belmont to gain control.
Five points from Will Richard gave Belmont a 51-44 halftime lead.
The all-courts games of Richard, Ben Sheppard and Grayson Murphy, along with timely shooting from Smith sparked Belmont to a 64-point second half.
Belmont went over the century mark with four minutes remaining, and Derek Sabin punctuated a 27-8 run with a layin to make the score 107-78.
All told, Belmont shot 56 percent (38-of-68) from the field - including 13-of-30 from 3-point distance.
Richard had 19 points, seven assists and three steals while Sheppard scored 18.
JaCobi Wood scored 11 points and Sabin had a career-high 10.
Zac Owens and Jared DeHart led Bethel (Ind.) with 21 points.
Belmont (10-3) returns to game action Dec. 30 at SIUE.
Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 14 of the last 16 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 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 11 consecutive seasons (BYU, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont is one of only four NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 16 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 18 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
