Box Score RICHMOND, Ky. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 81-67 decision at Eastern Kentucky Thursday.
Playing without two-time All-OVC center and reigning OVC Tournament Most Valuable Player Nick Muszynski due to injury, Belmont got off to a positive start.
Five different Bruins scored in the first six-plus minutes as Belmont took a 15-10 lead on a basket from freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.).
From there, Eastern Kentucky rode the play of Wendell Green and Curt Lewis to take control.
As sophomore Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) and junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) managed early foul trouble, Eastern Kentucky shot 62 percent from the field in the first half to lead 50-32 at halftime.
Belmont held Eastern Kentucky scoreless the opening five minutes of the second half, but the Bruins were unable to take full advantage as promising shots from inside and 3-point distance simply wouldn't fall.
After Sheppard got Belmont within 52-40 with 13:44 left, Tre King and Green combined on a four-point Eastern Kentucky possession.
Despite strong defense and rebounding in the second half, Belmont was unable to string together enough scores to close the gap.
Belmont shot 37 percent (27-of-74) from the field. The Bruins outrebounded Eastern Kentucky, 48-36.
Sheppard led Belmont with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Junior Tate Pierson (Brentwood, Tenn.) had a season-high 11 points and four assists.
Green led Eastern Kentucky (20-6, 14-5 OVC) with 22 points.
The setback snaps Belmont's 21-game win streak, stretch of 30 consecutive conference victories (including tournament) and 11 consecutive series wins vs. Eastern Kentucky.
Belmont (24-2, 18-1 OVC) returns to game action Saturday at Morehead 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
