Men's Basketball Falls at [3/3] Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 100-68 decision at [3/3] Arizona Friday night from the McKale Center.
 
10 years to the day of its memorable victory at six-time National Champion North Carolina and having won at UCLA in its last meeting with a Pac-12 opponent, the Bruins entered with tradition and resolve.
 
Meanwhile, the defending Pac-12 Champion Wildcats, fresh off a victory at Duke, showcased a blend of size, skill, experience and unselfishness befitting its national ranking.
 
After Arizona scored the game's first six points, Belmont played strong and purposeful on both ends of the floor.
 
The Bruins got 3-point field goals from Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Malik Dia, Keishawn Davidson and Brigham Rogers in the first four and a half minutes to tie the score at 14.
 
After a Dia steal and Arizona foul, Belmont had an opportunity to take the lead.
 
But with Gillespie and Isaiah Walker in early foul trouble, Arizona rode the hot shooting of Caleb Love to take a double-figure lead.
 
A Dia basket got the Belmont offense going again, before the Wildcats turned to their 7-foot post duo of Oumar Ballo and Motiejus Krivas.
 
Walker hit consecutive 3-point field goals in a 67-second span as a Cade Tyson 3-point play and seven straight Dia points helped the Bruins close the first half on an 11-5 run.
 
Pelle Larsson capped a 10-1 Arizona run to open the second half.
 
Dia continued to show his all-court game as Kyler Vanderjagt hit consecutive 3-point field goals to provide a lift.
 
Gillespie led the Bruins on both ends in the second half with active hands and fearless drives.
 
But the Wildcats were able to turn defensive stops into paint touches for Krivas and their collection of frontcourt players.
 
Belmont shot 38 percent (23-for-61) from the field – including 12-for-27 from 3-point distance.
 
Dia led Belmont with 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
Gillespie had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
Walker had nine points and a positive plus/minus rating.
 
Davidson had a season-high seven assists.
 
Krivas and Love led Arizona (3-0) with 20 points each.
 
Belmont (2-2) returns to game action Friday, Nov. 24 vs. Monmouth in the Cathedral of College Basketball Classic.

Belmont University men's basketball has been a postseason fixture the last two decades, 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 13 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon) and 19 or game games in 18 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State). Belmont is among select programs with two or more first-round selections in the NBA Draft over the last five years (Ben Sheppard, Dylan Windler). 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