Box Score MOREHEAD, Ky. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 83-74 decision at Morehead State Thursday.
Belmont rode the scoring of Nick Muszynski and Ben Sheppard to build a 17-10 eight minutes in.
But following a timeout, Morehead State scored 10 of the next 12 points, taking the lead on a Tray Hollowell 3-pointer.
3-pointers from Luke Smith and a driving basket from Will Richard kept Belmont within one possession before the hosts closed the first half well.
A Johni Broome basket capped a 10-4 Morehead State run and gave the Eagles a 44-33 halftime lead.
Belmont shot 48 percent (13-of-27) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 4-of-10 from 3-point distance.
In search of a spark to start the second half, Belmont shouldered an unfortunate sequence as a Smith shot rimmed out and Ta'lon Cooper completed a conventional 3-point play to extend the margin to 14.
While Smith, Grayson Murphy and Richard each took hard falls in the second half in the physical game, Belmont simply was unable to string defensive stops and scores together.
Belmont continued to fight and after holding Morehead State five minutes without a field goal, closed within 71-62 on a Murphy basket.
The Bruins momentum grew as a Sheppard 3-pointer and three points from Richard made the score 73-68 with 1:50 remaining.
However, Cooper made a wing 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock to push the margin back to eight.
JaCobi Wood got Belmont within 76-72 with 54 seconds left, but Morehead State made five of its final six free throws to secure the outcome.
All told, Belmont shot 41 percent (25-of-61) from the field. Belmont missed 10 free throws in the second half.
Sheppard led four Bruins in double figures with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Muszynski had 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots.
Richard had 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Smith scored 10.
Broome and Potter each scored 17 for Morehead State (13-5, 5-0 OVC) - which has won 16 consecutive home games.
Belmont (14-5, 4-2 OVC) returns to game action Monday at Eastern Illinois.
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
