Box Score EVANSVILLE, Ind. - - Behind a game-high 19 points from freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.), Belmont University men's basketball defeated SIU Edwardsville, 78-61, Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 OVC Basketball Championship.
"I thought we showed tremendous poise and toughness tonight," Belmont head coach Casey Alexander said following the game. "SIU Edwardsville played a hard and spirited game, and brought out good play in us during long stretches. Our defense, rebounding and sharing the ball were good. Guys made plays, I felt we stayed connected and together and did what we were supposed to do on both ends."
After securing a 12th conference regular season championship in 16 years, Belmont rode strong defense, rebounding and balanced scoring to victory.
Wood went 5-of-9 from the field - including 4-of-6 from 3-point distance - as the Bruins held a double-figure lead virtually the entire second half.
After Mike Adewunmi helped SIU Edwardsville to an early four-point lead, Belmont got nine points in the first 4:11 from junior Caleb Hollander (Nashville, Tenn.) to reclaim the advantage.
Belmont held SIU Edwardsville to one field goal over a nine-and-a-half minute stretch of the first half, leading 21-13 on a basket from junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.).
Hollander extended the margin to 29-17 before Iziah James capped a 7-0 Cougar reply.
The Bruins closed the first half on a 12-4 run, bookended by two Wood 3-pointers as Belmont led 43-30 at halftime.
Belmont shot 50 percent (17-of-34) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 8-of-18 from 3-point distance.
Belmont outrebounded SIU Edwardsville, 24-9, in the first half.
A Murphy basket and a Hollander 3-pointer increased the Belmont lead to 18, 48-30, with 18:36 remaining.
Belmont created several turnovers and open court opportunities, but outstanding transition defense and blocked shots at the rim from SIU Edwardsville kept the Bruins from breaking the game open.
Four points from freshman Even Brauns (Iowa City, Iowa) and a basket from junior Luke Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) made the score 58-43 with 10:39 left.
The Bruins held SIU Edwardsville scoreless for another five-minute stretch as Wood capped a 10-0 Belmont run to give Belmont a 71-51 lead with 3:56 to go.
All told, Belmont shot 47 percent (29-of-62) from the field - including 10-of-25 from 3-point distance.
Belmont handed out 20 assists on 29 made field goals and forced 14 turnovers.
Wood led four Bruins in double figures with 19 points. Hollander had 17 points and five rebounds while Murphy added 13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
Smith scored 10.
James led SIU Edwardsville (9-17) with 18 points.
Belmont (25-3) returns to game action Friday vs. Jacksonville State or Murray State in the OVC semifinal round.
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 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 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
