Short-Handed Men's Basketball Falls to Tarleton State in Opening Game of Paradise Jam

Box Score ST. THOMAS, USVI - - Playing short-handed for a fourth consecutive game, Belmont University men's basketball dropped an 89-81 decision to Tarleton State Friday in the first round of the Paradise Jam from the University of the Virgin Islands.
 
Without the services of Keishawn Davidson, Frank Jakubicek and Isaiah Walker, Belmont fought valiantly to the end.

Tarleton State, which lost on the final possession at Arizona State in its season opener and battled Gonzaga, Michigan, Stanford and Wichita State last season, found early confidence.
 
After an opening 3-pointer from graduate student Drew Friberg, Tarleton State used opportunistic defense and transition baskets to build a double-figure lead.
 
The inside play of Even Brauns provided a huge lift to the Bruins, helping stabilize the Belmont offense.
 
A Ben Sheppard 3-pointer made the score 44-31 at halftime.
 
Cade Tyson delivered a baseline slam to open the second half scoring before consecutive Jakorie Smith 3-pointers pushed the margin to 19 with 18:13 left.
 
A Brauns layin and a Sheppard coast-to-coast score got Belmont within 63-54 with 10:29 remaining.
 
But fouls became an issue as Tarleton State lived at the free throw line in the second half.
 
Each time Belmont built momentum through improved offensive efficiency, Tarleton State would provide an answer.
 
A Shamir Bogues score made the score 74-61 with 6:14 left.
 
A Ja'Kobi Gillespie driving layin and a steal and score from EJ Bellinger narrowed the margin to 80-74 with 1:35 remaining.
 
The Bruins would get within six points on two more occasions, but Tarleton State would shoot 35 free throws in the second half to secure the outcome.
 
All told, Belmont shot 50 percent (28-for-56) from the field – including 60 percent in the second half.
 
Tarleton State would attempt 49 free throws – the most ever in a single-game against the Bruins in the NCAA Division I era.
 
Sheppard led four Bruins in double figures with 21 points. He added five assists.
 
Tyson had 14 points and seven rebounds, while Gillespie added 12 points and six assists.
 
Brauns posted his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Freddy Hicks, who made his season debut, led Tarleton State (2-1) with 24 points.
 
Belmont (1-3) returns to game action Saturday vs. Boston College or George Mason. Tip-off is set for 4:45 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3. The live play-by-play will be available on Belmont Bruins Radio on iHeartRadio.

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