Box Score EVANSVILLE, Ind. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 53-51 decision to Morehead State in the semifinal round of the 2022 OVC Basketball Championship.
For the Bruins it was a heartbreaking result after a courageous second-half performance, rallying from an 11-point deficit to take a late lead.
Belmont appeared to receive a go-ahead 3-pointer from Ben Sheppard with eight seconds remaining.
However, officials had acknowledged a Belmont timeout prior to Sheppard's shot.
Down two points in the final sequence, Morehead State defended a curling Sheppard well, forcing a pass to Nick Muszynski as time wound down.
Muszynski's potential game-winning 3-point attempt was blocked by Johni Broome as time expired.
With two teams facing each other for the sixth time in the last two seasons, there were few offensive secrets and points were at a premium.
Morehead State rode its defense and the play of Skyelar Potter to an early lead before baskets from Grayson Murphy, Muszynski and Will Richard got Belmont within 16-15.
Muszynski would score a determined basket to make the score 25-21 before a Potter 3-pointer and a Broome basket gave Morehead State a 30-21 halftime lead.
Sheppard almost single-handedly willed Belmont's offense to life in the second half, with outstanding defensive activity and an array of offensive plays.
His 12 points got Belmont within 39-34 with 11:34 remaining.
Sparked by the play of Sheppard and Will Richard, Belmont extended its defensive pressure and made Morehead State exceedingly uncomfortable.
Four Richard free throws and a Muszynski basket capped a 15-3 run and gave Belmont a 40-39 lead with 9:51 remaining.
After a Richard 3-pointer and one Sheppard free throw made the score 44-42, Belmont had three offensive possessions to stretch the lead out but were unable to get scores.
As Belmont limited Morehead State to one made field goal over a nearly 11-minute stretch, the Eagles stabilized behind free throws from Potter and Jaylon Hall.
A Murphy reverse layin tied the score at 46 with 5:03 left, before Tray Hollowell made a contested, straight-on 3-pointer to put Morehead State back on top.
Muszynski completed a conventional 3-point play with 3:06 remaining to tie the score at 49.
Moments later, Ta'lon Cooper scored a driving layin to give Morehead State a 51-49 lead.
Muszynski answered back with a tough hook shot over Broome to tie the score at 51.
After a Cooper missed shot, Belmont appeared to dial up a play for the lead, but JaCobi Wood's backdoor layin attempt was blocked at the rim by Broome.
Potter proceeded to force Richard out of bounds and possession was awared to Morehead State.
Broome then rimmed home a 12-foot fadeaway jump shot to give Morehead State a 53-51 lead with 1:18 remaining.
Richard had a shot in the paint rim off with 57 seconds left and Morehead State grabbed the rebound.
Morehead State would work its next possession before Cooper missed an elbow jumper. Jake Wolfe grabbed the long rebound for Morehead State, but as the Eagles looked to reset the possession, Richard stole the ball from Hollowell.
That's when a measure of chaos ensued; Belmont worked the ball into the frontcourt looking for early offense.
But as the play broke down near midcourt, Belmont appeared content to call for timeout.
However, several seconds passed and no timeout was acknowledged by officials, and play continued.
From there, Belmont freed Sheppard along the right wing for a go-ahead 3-point attempt.
As he prepared to shoot, on the opposite side of the floor by the scorer's table, officials granted Belmont a timeout with 7.5 seconds remaining; Sheppard's shot proceeded to hit nothing but net.
Morehead State made one final defensive stop to win the game.
The disjointed game was characterized by 34 turnovers and 30 fouls.
Belmont, which entered No. 1 in the nation in total assists, handed out a season-low six assists.
Sheppard led three Belmont players in double figures with a game-high 19 points and five steals.
Muszynski had 14 points. Richard had 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
Broome led Morehead State (23-10) with 13 points.
This marks just the fifth time in the last 17 years Belmont will not play for a conference tournament championship.
Belmont is 25-7.
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 has won 20 or more games in 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon). 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 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
