Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Who's ready for college basketball?
Freshman
Cade Tyson hit a dramatic 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift Belmont University men's basketball to a 70-69 victory over Ohio from the Curb Event Center Monday night.
In arguably the best finish on night one of college basketball season, Tyson's shot capped a crazy final 1.4 seconds - and an impressive debut - as the freshman scored a team-high 18 points.
The Bruins played without presumptive starting point guard
Keishawn Davidson and key reserves
EJ Bellinger and
Frank Jakubicek.
Nonetheless, strong defense and the all-court play of
Ja'Kobi Gillespie powered Belmont to a 19-4 run midway through the first half, giving the Bruins a 25-19 lead after an early nine-point deficit.
The lead grew to 32-25 on a Tyson basket before Ohio tied the score at 34 on consecutive Jaylin Hunter 3-pointers.
Belmont closed the half on a 7-0 run in the final 85 seconds.
A
Ben Sheppard driving basket, a Tyson 3-pointer and a
Drew Friberg slam gave the Bruins a 41-34 halftime lead.
Belmont shot 58 percent from the field in the first half and forced eight Bobcat turnovers.
Belmont did miss five first half free throws which inhibited momentum.
A Gillespie basket and a Sheppard 3-pointer increased the lead to 46-34 with 18:05 remaining.
Ohio answered back before another Tyson score and two timely free throws from
Derek Sabin pushed the lead back to 52-40.
Both teams labored to find consistent scoring in the second half as every dribble, pass and shot was heavily contested.
After DeVon Baker got Ohio within five points, Sheppard responded with a 3-pointer to give Belmont a 61-53 lead with 5:49 left.
Dwight Wilson closed the margin to 63-60 with 2:13 left before Gillespie provided a determined drive and finish for the Bruins.
After an exchange of free throws, Wilson scored a tough baseline shot to again get Ohio within three points, 67-64, with 54 seconds remaining.
On the subsequent inbounds play, Sheppard mishandled the ball turning upcourt and Ohio was awarded possession with 50 seconds left.
Wilson scored another contested bank shot in the paint to make the score 67-66 with 36 seconds left.
The Bobcats elected to play a defensive possession straight-up rather than foul and extend the game.
Belmont would call timeout, run an offensive possession and free Sheppard for a clean 3-point look in front of the Bruin bench.
The shot rimmed off with nine seconds remaining and Ben Roderick secured a tough defensive rebound in traffic.
He found Miles Brown who whipped a pass upcourt to AJ Clayton, who proceeded to bury a wing 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds left – giving Ohio its first lead since 15-13.
After officials visited the monitor and confirmed 1.4 seconds on the game clock, Belmont drew up phase one of a two-act final play.
Tyson rifled a pass just across midcourt to Sabin who immediately called timeout.
Because Sabin caught the ball cleanly and timeout was granted instantaneously, by rule 0.3 seconds came off the clock, leaving Belmont 1.1 seconds to work with from the frontcourt.
Michael Shanks would serve as the Belmont inbounder, with
Isaiah Walker, Sheppard, Gillespie and Tyson on the floor.
The Bruins would also execute the second act to perfection with Tyson screening for Sheppard then sprinting to the top of the key for the final shot.
A split-second of defensive confusion from Ohio gave Tyson a straight-on look from 25 feet.
As Baker contested late, Tyson elevated and buried nothing but strings as the buzzer sounded.
From there it was pure euphoria as the bench and the student section poured onto the court.
A magical celebration to one of the great finishes in Curb Event Center history.
All told, Belmont shot 49 percent from the field, handing out 17 assists on 28 made field goals.
Belmont outscored Ohio, 40-34, in points in the paint.
Tyson paced four Bruins with 18 points.
Sheppard also scored 18, adding a career-high seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.
Gillespie had 11 points, four assists and two steals.
Friberg had 11 points and four rebounds.
Even Brauns recorded a career-high five blocked shots.
Wilson led Ohio (0-1) with 20 points.
Belmont returns to game action Friday, Nov. 11 at Furman.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and Belmont Bruins Radio on iHeart Radio.
NOTE: Belmont improves to 3-1 all-time vs. Ohio … This marks Belmont's second victory on a buzzer-beater; Craig Bradshaw hit the game-winning shot at Ohio in 2014 as part of his career-high 42-point night … Belmont won 83-81.
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
