Men's Basketball Falls at Drake

DES MOINES, Iowa - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 70-56 decision at Drake Sunday afternoon. 

Ben Sheppard led Belmont with 19 points and seven rebounds. 

Much the like first meeting when Keishawn Davidson and Sheppard found themselves in early foul trouble, Cade Tyson picked up a second personal foul early in the game impacting the Bruins' offensive rhythm and rotation. 

An Even Brauns slam off an assist from Ja'Kobi Gillespie made the score 14-11 eight and a half minutes in. 

Behind strong perimeter defense and Brauns' rim protection and rebounding, the Bruins were able to string defensive stops together. 

However, Belmont simply could not get shots to go during the first half, allowing the host team to get into transition. 

Roman Penn led Drake to an 11-2 run to give the Bulldogs a 25-13 lead. 

Bench contributions from Nate Ferguson, Conor Enright and Sardaar Calhoun provided Drake a significant lift. 

After scores from Gillespie and EJ Bellinger, Drake scored the final six points of the first half. 

Drake led 42-23 at halftime. 

Belmont shot 29 percent (10-for-34) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. 

Belmont responded as Davidson and Sheppard combined to score 13 points in the first six and a half minutes of the second half. 

After an acrobatic Sheppard layin got Belmont within 52-40, the Bruins had two possessions to get within single figures but Drake was able to get a blocked shot and draw an offensive foul. 

From there, Belmont had a stretch of clean 3-point field goal looks to push closer but could not get the ball to go. 

The momentum swings of Belmont missed open shots and Drake scores late in the shot clock proved too much to overcome. 

All told, Belmont shot 52 percent (15-for-29) from the field in the second half, including 15-for-21 from two-point distance. 

Belmont limited Drake, which had been averaging over 84 points per game during its eight-game win streak entering play, to 42 percent shooting. 

Belmont outscored Drake, 34-28, in points in the paint 

Penn led Drake (23-6, 14-4 MVC) with 22 points. 

Belmont (19-10, 12-6 MVC) returns to game action Wednesday vs. Indiana State.

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