Men's Basketball Defeats Arkansas State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind 18 points from Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Arkansas State, 74-70, Wednesday night from the Curb Event Center.
 
Gillespie added six rebounds, five assists and four steals as the Bruins won for the seventh time in their last eight games.
 
Isaiah Walker established a defensive identity for Belmont from the opening tip, providing numerous steals, deflections and extra effort rebounds.
 
Five points from Malik Dia gave Belmont a 14-9 lead five minutes in.
 
After two Keishawn Davidson free throws, Arkansas State went on an 11-2 run - capped by a banked baseline 3-pointer from Julian Lual - to make the score 27-21.
 
A Cade Tyson driving basket and a Jayce Willingham 3-pointer got Belmont within one. Arkansas State responded with a Dyondre Dominguez 3-pointer as the Red Wolves led 43-38 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 46 percent (15-for-33) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Bruins forced eight first-half turnovers.
 
Walker would score along the baseline, but a Derrian Ford jump shot and five Dominguez points extended the margin to 51-40 with 17:50 left.
 
From there, Belmont got a huge response on both ends of the floor to reclaim the lead.
 
Dia and Gillespie combined to score 15 points during a 17-3 Belmont run. Consecutive dazzling drives from Gillespie gave Belmont a 57-54 lead with 10:32 remaining.
 
After Ford tied the game, Gillespie continued his confident play with a short shot in the lane, a step back 3-pointer, and a sweet assist to Brigham Rogers for a conventional 3-point play as the Belmont lead extended to eight, 65-57, with 8:19 left.
 
Just as Belmont appeared poised to take control, a rare stretch of empty possessions swung momentum once again. Lual capped a 9-0 Arkansas State response, as his layin gave the visitors a 66-65 lead with 4:39 left.
 
Belmont worked Arkansas State into foul trouble in each half, but was unable to take full advantage, missing the front end of its first three bonus free throw opportunities.
 
After a exchange of defensive stops, Tyson made a clutch wing jump shot to give Belmont a 69-66 lead with 2:24 left.
 
Izaiyah Nelson scored on Arkansas State's next possession along the baseline to get the Red Wolves within one point.
 
After a Belmont miss, Nelson would be fouled on an alley oop attempt and earn two free throws with 1:23 left.
 
Nelson would miss both free throws, but he came up with his own offensive rebound following the second free throw miss.
 
Fittingly, Walker came up with another huge defensively play, denying Nelson at the rim and securing a tip-out rebound to Gillespie.
 
Tyson would make one free throw with 48 seconds left to extend the Belmont lead to two, 70-68.
 
In need of another defensive stop, Belmont defended Caleb Fields well as he drove under the basket. Walker deflected a pass intended for a cutting Nelson and Tyson gathered the loose ball near midcourt.
 
Gillespie would be fouled and made two free throws to give Belmont a 72-68 lead with 21 seconds left.
 
With a foul to give, Belmont had a defensive miscommunication and allowed Fields to drive the length of the court for a layin to cut the margin to two with 14 seconds left.
 
On the subsequent inbounds pass, Walker would be fouled and sent to the free throw line.
 
Walker would miss the first free throw attempt, but make the second to give Belmont a 3-point lead.
 
Arkansas State would call timeout to set up a final game-tying 3-point attempt. After Belmont used its foul to give, Avery Felts missed a contested 3-point attempt with seven seconds left.
 
Walker secured the rebound and added one free throw to provide the final outcome.
 
All told, Belmont shot 48 percent (28-for-58) from the field – including 52 percent in the second half.
 
Belmont limited Arkansas State to 33 percent shooting in the second half.
 
Gillespie led four Belmont players in double figures with 18 points. Dia provided his second double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Walker had a career-high 11 points and five steals. Tyson had 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.
 
Dominguez led Arkansas State (4-8) with 18 points.
 
Belmont (9-4, 2-0 MVC) returns to game action Jan. 2 at Southern Illinois.

NOTES: Gillespie has scored in double figures in 16 consecutive games dating back to last season...He leads the MVC in steals (32)...Dia has two double-doubles at Belmont; both 18 points and 10 rebounds (vs. Valparaiso Dec. 2)...Belmont is 24-5 in December games under Coach Alexander...Belmont is 54-5 at the Curb Event Center under Coach Alexander.

Belmont season tickets, which include the entire men's and women's basketball home schedule, are on sale now at BelmontBruins.com/Tickets, in addition to Puckett's flex packs, single-game tickets and group experiences. Fans can also call or text 615.460.BALL (2255).

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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