Gillespie's 3-Point Play Lifts Men's Basketball to Victory over Lipscomb in 150th Battle of the Boulevard

Roll back the tape. Battle of the Boulevard Edition ????#ItsBruinTime pic.twitter.com/xW3Z1ysCL3

— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) December 7, 2023

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Ja'Kobi Gillespie's conventional 3-point play with 6.2 seconds remaining lifted Belmont University men's basketball to a 72-71 victory over Lipscomb Wednesday night from the Curb Event Center.
 
Belmont earned a defensive stop on the final possession to win the 150^th installment of the Battle of the Boulevard.
 
The Bruins have won 18 of the last 21 meetings in the series.
 
The game was truly a tale of two halves.
 
In front of an electric atmosphere and boisterous student section, Belmont got strong early play from Cade Tyson and Brigham Rogers to take a 9-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.
 
A Jayce Willingham post move and a Malik Dia 3-pointer extended the margin to 17-4 as Belmont hounded every Lipscomb dribble, pass and shot attempt.
 
As Belmont forced Lipscomb into live-ball turnovers, the Bruins got open-court took advantage of open-court scoring opportunities.
 
A Keishawn Davidson 3-pointer and a Tyson conventional 3-point play made the score 31-17 with 8:30 left in the first half.
 
Five points from Kyler Vanderjagt and an Isaiah Walker baseline layin helped Belmont take a 44-26 lead at halftime.
 
In a rivalry game, Belmont could not have delivered a better opening 20 minutes.
 
Belmont shot 55 percent (17-for-31) from the field, including five 3-point field goals.
 
Meanwhile Belmont limited the Bisons to 31 percent shooting – and 2-of-13 from behind the arc to one of the nation's top 3-point shooting teams.
 
The Bruins forced 12 first-half turnovers and scored 16 first-half bench points.
 
But the talented and tough-minded Bisons made mental and physical adjustments at halftime and they completely flipped the script.
 
Fueled by the inspired play of Will Pruitt, Lipscomb closed within 46-36 on a Grant Asman 3-point field goal.
 
Belmont responded in kind, as consecutive baskets from Dia and Gillespie reasserted a 54-36 lead with 13:31 left.
 
After receiving no bench production in the first half, Lipscomb got timely points Asman and TJ Johnson in the second half.
 
Tyson scored a putback basket to make the score 64-48 with 9:54 to go.
 
From there, Lipscomb elevated its defense and rebounding and methodically worked back into the game.
 
A Cody Head conventional 3-point play and an AJ McGinnis putback made the score 66-58 with 6:04 left.
 
With Belmont enduring a rare dry spell offensively - and despite huge hustle plays from Rogers - six straight points from Head made the score 67-64 with 2:03 remaining.
 
Two Dia free throws stabilized Belmont and extended the margin to five, 69-64, with 1:45 left.
 
Moments later, Joe Anderson drove to the basket and scored to cut the margin back to three.
 
After Dia missed a 12-foot jump shot, Pruitt scored a fearless drive at the end of the shot clock to get Lipscomb within 69-68 with 44 seconds left.
 
On the next Belmont possession, the Bruins tried to free Dia inside but misconnected on an entry feed and Lipscomb was awarded possession with 35 seconds left.
 
McGinnis would have a driving layin attempt blocked at the rim by Tyson, but Lipscomb preserved possession with 22 seconds remaining.
 
On the subsequent sequence, Lipscomb executed a baseline out of bounds play well, with big man Owen McCormack faking a dribble handoff and rumbling to the basket.
 
His finish at the rim – and conventional 3-point play – gave Lipscomb a 71-69 lead with 17 seconds left.
 
It was Lipscomb's first lead of the game and a monumental turn of events in the final 10 minutes of the game.
 
Belmont called timeout in the frontcourt with 11 seconds left.
 
The Curb Event Center crowd – which had been standing for the lion's share of the second half – was equal parts in shock and stunned silence – escape a section of Lipscomb fans in the corner of the arena.
 
As Belmont looked for a game-tying or game-winning shot, Lipscomb elected to use its sixth team foul – or foul to give – with seven seconds remaining as Gillespie drove the lane.
 
Now with a baseline inbounds, Belmont head coach Casey Alexander went deep into the program playbook.
 
Designing a strong-side action for Tyson as a decoy, Belmont freed Gillespie on a weakside backdoor play.
 
Gillespie caught the inbounds pass from Davidson and finished through contact with 6.2 seconds left – sending the Bruin crowd into a frenzy.
 
Gillespie proceeded to complete the 3-point play to give Belmont a 72-71 lead.
 
Belmont defended Lipscomb's final action well, as a McGinnis shot along the baseline missed as time expired.
 
It was another wild, emotional ride – full of courageous play and memorable moments - befitting the Battle of the Boulevard series.
 
All told, Belmont shot 48 percent from the field and limited Lipscomb to 41 percent shooting.
 
Dia led three Bruins in double figures with 15 points.
 
Gillespie and Tyson each scored 14.
 
Walker had a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Pruitt led Lipscomb (6-5) with 21 points.
 
Belmont (7-3, 2-0 MVC) returns to game action Saturday at Middle Tennessee.
 
NOTES: Belmont has won five consecutive games…Davidson had five assists and three steals…Six of the last 13 meetings have been decided on the final possession of the game.
 
12/6/23           Ja'Kobi Gillespie GW shot                                                       W, 72-71
11/14/22         Jacob Ognacevic GW shot                                                      L, 75-77
12/4/18           Caleb Hollander GW shot                                                       W, 76-74
11/15/18         Grayson Murphy steal/FTs                                                     W, 87-83
12/6/16           Taylor Barnette GW shot                                                        W, 78-76 ot
11/29/16         Evan Bradds baseball pass/Dylan Windler GW shot              W, 64-62

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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