Strong Defense Leads Men's Basketball Past Evansville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind five double figure scorers, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Evansville, 95-63, Wednesday night from the Curb Event Center.
 
Belmont joins the exclusive company of Gonzaga, Kansas and San Diego State as programs to win 19 or more games in 18 straight seasons.
 
Ben Sheppard flirted with his first career triple-double before finishing with a game-high 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
 
Belmont got two straight 3-point field goals from Drew Friberg 41 seconds into the game and never looked back.
 
3-pointers from Friberg and Cade Tyson followed by an EJ Bellinger basket increased the margin to 22-8 seven minutes in.
 
The Bruins showcased unified defense and strong rebounding to limit Evansville scoring opportunities.
 
Five straight points from Keishawn Davidson made the score 29-12 with 9:22 left in the first half.
 
An Isaiah Walker 3-point field goal sparked a 13-4 run to end the first half as Belmont led 46-28 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 52 percent (17-for-33) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 9-for-16 from 3-point distance.
 
Belmont outrebounded Evansville, 28-10, in the first half, recording 14 second chance points.
 
After nine free throws to open the second half, Even Brauns slammed home a Davidson feed to give Belmont a 57-33 advantage with 16:10 left.
 
With Belmont head coach Casey Alexander substituting players reminiscent of hockey shifts, the Bruins stayed fresh, active and determined on defense.
 
A Ja'Kobi Gillespie steal and slam and a full speed finger roll from Tyson extended the margin to 71-37 with 11:49 remaining.
 
Walker, Frank Jakubicek and Kyler Vanderjagt highlighted Belmont play down the stretch as the Bruins scored 25 bench points.
 
All told, Belmont shot 57 percent (33-for-58) from the field – including 12-for-26 from 3-point distance.
 
Belmont held Evansville to 31 percent shooting and outrebounded the visitors, 51-31.
 
The Bruins have scored 283 points in their last three home victories.

Tyson, Friberg and Davidson each scored 14 points.
 
Brauns recorded his fourth double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Marvin Coleman led Evansville (5-23, 1-16 MVC) with 15 points.
 
Belmont (19-9, 12-5 MVC) returns to game action Sunday at Drake.

Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 15 of the last 17 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 five NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). 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