Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 82-60 decision to Murray State from the Curb Event Center.
A close, back-and-forth game was anticipated with two Top 50 programs and one of college basketball's truly special rivalries over the past decade.
And while Belmont had won 11 of the previous 16 meetings with Murray State in OVC play - including 5-0 at home - this edition was controlled by the Racers.
Early 3-pointers from KJ Williams, Justice Hill and Tevin Brown sparked Murray State to an 11-2 lead.
And though the All-OVC forward Williams was limited to six minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, Hill was more than willing to take the scoring torch.
After Luke Smith got Belmont within 20-18 midway through the first half, Hill combined contested perimeter shots with free throws as Murray State reclaimed control.
Ben Sheppard and JaCobi Wood stabilized Belmont offensively, and Nick Muszynski got the Bruins within 41-33 with 2:17 left in the first half.
Belmont was on the verge of closing the margin before Jordan Skipper-Brown provided consecutive blocked shots for Murray State.
From there Hill - after banking a 3-pointer moments earlier - scored seven points in the final 1:14 of the first half, including a 3-pointer from the logo at the buzzer which whirlpooled in.
Murray State led 48-35 at halftime.
Hill scored 25 first-half points, including 6-of-6 from 3-point distance.
Murray State shot 11-of-14 from 3-point distance in the first half.
After Muszynski opened second half scoring for Belmont, Hill made his seventh 3-pointer of the game 58 seconds into the second 20 minutes.
While Belmont matched Murray State scores with more assertive attacks and finishes at the rim, uncharacteristic 3-point shooting stifled a comeback charge.
When Willliams capped a 7-0 run midway through the second half, Murray State was able to play situational basketball down the stretch.
After averaging 92 points per game on 58 percent shooting over its previous three games, Belmont shot 41 percent (24-of-59) from the field - including 5-of-23 from 3-point distance.
Belmont had won its previous 19 home games, and was 75-4 in OVC games at the Curb Event Center.
Sheppard led three Belmont players in double figures with 13 points.
Hill led Murray State (14-2, 4-0 OVC) with 36 points.
Belmont (13-4, 3-1 OVC) returns to game action Monday 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
