Men's Basketball Falls at Samford

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 99-93 decision at Samford Saturday at Pete Hanna Center.
 
After facing a methodical Middle Tennessee offense one week prior, Belmont played at a Bulldog team playing its ninth straight home game, known for uptempo play, full court pressure and organized chaos.
 
Five points from Cade Tyson gave Belmont a 9-4 lead before fouls hurt the Bruins.
 
Samford capitalized and took a 24-14 lead on an Achor Achor basket.
 
Timely contributions from Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Brigham Rogers kept Belmont within reach.
 
Two Gillespie free throws got Belmont within 44-36 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 46 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
 
But turnovers and uncharacteristically cold 3-point shooting kept the Bruins from building momentum.
 
Seeking a fresh slate to start the second half, Belmont had to withstand another series of strange circumstances.
 
After seeming to get a stop on its first defensive possession of the second half, Belmont watched as a low-percentage shot from Rylan Jones got stuck between the rim and backboard.
 
Samford gained possession on the arrow and proceeded to score a second-chance, conventional 3-point play from Dallas Graziani.
 
Then after a Tyson baseline 3-pointer whirlpooled around the basket and came out, Riley Allenspach made a fadeaway jump shot in the lane.
 
Despite the hill to climb, Belmont stayed together and hung tough.
 
Tyson got Belmont within 67-57 with 11:03 left.
 
Samford got balanced scoring and a few off-the-scouting-report 3-pointers to maintain its lead.
 
Belmont played courageously to manage lineups and fouls well in a spirited, physical game.
 
In fact, Tyson's hot shooting spurred Belmont in the final 10 minutes, as seven straight points got the Bruins within 86-78 with 3:54 left.
 
But Samford seemingly had an answer for every Belmont push.
 
An A.J. Staton-McCray 3-pointer moments later increased the margin back to 11.
 
Then after a Gillespie 3-pointer and a Tyson blocked shot, Jermaine Marshall grabbed a loose ball rebound and scored to make the score 91-81 with 2:37 left.
 
Tyson would provide an extraordinary six-point possession – two free throws following a flagrant foul on Marshall – then a four-point play on a baseline 3-pointer plus the foul to get Belmont within 93-87 with 1:56 remaining.
 
From there, Marshall would score along the baseline late in the shot clock to extend the margin back to eight points with 1:24 left.
 
After a Keishawn Davidson 3-pointer and an empty Samford possession, Tyson had a promising 3-point attempt to get Belmont within two points with 23 seconds left rim out.
 
Samford made four free throws in the final 18 seconds to secure the outcome.
 
All told, Belmont shot 50 percent (28-for-56) from the field and made 11 3-pointers in the second 20 minutes.
 
Tyson led four Belmont players in double figures with a career-high 31 points and nine rebounds.
 
Gillespie had 18 points and five assists.
 
Davidson had 13 points and six assists while Malik Dia scored 11.
 
Staton-McCray led Samford (9-2) with 19 points.
 
Belmont (8-4, 2-0 MVC) returns to game action Dec. 20 vs. Arkansas State.

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