GREENVILLE, S.C. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 89-74 decision at Southern Conference favorite Furman Friday night from Timmons Arena.
 
After trailing 19-8, the Bruins rode the shooting of Drew Friberg and Ben Sheppard to build a 28-25 lead with 4:37 left in the first half.
 
Belmont made eight first half 3-point field goals as the game was tied at 37 at the break.
 
Seven quick points from the outstanding freshman duo of Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Cade Tyson gave the Bruins a 44-42 lead with 15:44 remaining.
 
A Tyson basket and a driving score from Ben Sheppard got the Bruins within 52-50 midway through the second half, before a succession of Furman scores and Bruin missed free throws enabled the hosts to build a working margin.
 
A Garrett Hien 3-pointer capped a 12-3 run to give Furman a 64-53 lead with 7:18 remaining.

Belmont went 3-for-11 from the free throw line in the second half, including a stretch of misses which would have kept the Bruins within a one or two possession game.
 
The Bruins battled and gave themselves a chance in the final two minutes, but the Paladins offensive efficiency proved too much to overcome.
 
Belmont shot 45 percent from the field – including 12-for-31 from 3-point distance.
 
The Bruins forced 16 Furman turnovers, but only yielded six points off turnovers in the second 20 minutes.
 
As was the case in the season opening victory over Ohio, Sheppard and Tyson paced four Bruins in double figures with 18 points each.
 
Friberg had 17 points and three steals while Gillespie scored 13.
 
Mike Bothwell led Furman (2-0) with 25 points.
 
Belmont (1-1) returns to game action Monday, Nov. 14 at Lipscomb. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT.

Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 15 of the last 17 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 has won 20 or more games in 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon). Belmont is one of only five NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 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