Men's Basketball Drops Heartbreaker to Conference-Leading [rv/rv] Indiana State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - In one of the most riveting games in recent memory, Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 78-72 decision to [rv/rv] Indiana State Wednesday night from the Curb Event Center.
 
Indiana State entered the game with a NET ranking of 24 - and with five double-figure scorers and the nation's most efficient offense - as one of the highest-ranked teams ever to play at Belmont.
 
And despite playing an eighth consecutive game without all-conference guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Belmont came out purposeful and determined.
 
Consecutive 3-pointers from Isaiah Walker and Malik Dia gave Belmont a 6-5 lead and energized the Belmont student section.
 
Following three Robbie Avila free throws, Belmont embarked upon one of the great scoring runs under head coach Casey Alexander.
 
The Bruins earned a remarkable 11 consecutive defensive stops against the high-powered Sycamores' offense, turning those into high percentage scoring opportunities.
 
Keishawn Davidson scored or assisted on 12 points during an electrifying 20-0 run over a four-minute stretch that gave Belmont a 28-10 lead with 12:23 left in the first half.
 
After an Isaiah Swope basket, Davidson answered with a 3-pointer to extend the margin to 19 points midway through the first half.
 
Foul trouble for Belmont swingman Jayce Willingham limited the Bruins, but two more strong baskets from Davidson and Dia made the score 39-24 with 4:27 left in the first half.
 
A scary and emotional situation transpired late in the first half.
 
Following a Swope 3-pointer with the score 39-27 and 3:28 on the game clock, a medical emergency involving a fan occurred in the stands behind the scorer's table.
 
Medical personnel attended to the situation and teams went back to the locker rooms for roughly 12 minutes.
 
After a brief warmup period, the game resumed.
 
Now managing a second personal foul on Dia, Belmont got production from Win Miller, Brigham Rogers and Davidson to maintain its lead.
 
Swope made a step-back 3-pointer to end the first half as Belmont led 45-37.
 
Belmont shot 55 percent (18-for-33) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 8-for-17 from 3-point distance.
 
The Bruins rode active, united defense to force nine Indiana State turnovers in the first half.
 
Davidson was outstanding with 11 points, five assists, two steals and zero turnovers.
 
Indiana State got momentum following the Swope 3-pointer as a Ryan Conwell layin to open the second half trimmed the margin to 45-39.
 
Belmont again battled through a measure of adversity as Willingham picked up his third and fourth personal fouls within the first 2:08 of the second half and the Bruins missed his defensive versatility and scoring output.
 
Nevertheless, Dia and Cade Tyson continued to deliver with inspired play and offensive production, as a Tyson conventional 3-point play pushed the Bruin lead to 52-44 with 17:27 left.
 
Five Julian Larry points and an Avila putback basket gave Indiana State a 55-54 lead with 14:41 remaining – the Sycamores' first lead since 10-8.
 
Over the next seven minutes there would be six lead changes and two ties as the teams exchanged offensive haymakers and physical defensive stops.
 
Belmont played unselfish team basketball, with Dia showcasing his all-court game.
 
Another Dia basket and a Tyson 3-pointer gave Belmont a 66-63 lead with 9:40 left.
 
After four Jayson Kent points, Walker scored in transition off a Davidson assist to make the score 69-68 with 6:41 remaining.
 
As Belmont continued to work for clean looks, shots started to rim out and Indiana State took advantage.
 
Avila would set up Xavier Bledson for two points before two Avila free throws gave Indiana State a 73-68 lead with 4:12 left.
 
After another clutch basket from Davidson, arguably the biggest sequence of the game transpired under the four-minute mark.
 
Belmont was unable to secure a defensive rebound following an Avila missed 3-pointer. Moments later, Swope banked in a contested wing 3-pointer to give Indiana State a 76-70 lead with 3:19 remaining.
 
Davidson once again scored to cut the margin to four points and Belmont would earn a defensive stop on the subsequent possession.
 
Following a Belmont timeout, the Bruins freed Dia for a post scoring opportunity inside.
 
However, the ball was tipped outside, forcing him to regather on the perimeter.
 
Ultimately, Willingham – who had re-entered the game after sitting the majority of the second half with four fouls – rimmed out a wing 3-pointer.
 
After a Conwell missed shot, Belmont once again executed well, freeing Tyson for a clean 3-point look in front of the Bruin bench with 37 seconds left.
 
However, as was the case much of the second half, the Bruins just couldn't buy a shot from beyond the arc.
 
The Bruins received one more opportunity in the final 20 seconds following an ill-advised Swope shot and a missed Larry free throw, but a Dia 3-pointer that would have cut the margin to one point with 10 seconds left also rimmed out.
 
Two Xavier Bledson free throws provided the final margin.
 
All told, Belmont shot 48 percent from the field – but just 2-for-15 from 3-point distance in the second half.
 
Belmont limited Indiana State – the nation's top 3-point shooting team – to 10-for-30 from long distance; the Sycamores' single-game percentage season low.
 
Belmont had 11 steals and forced 15 turnovers.
 
Indiana State outrebounded Belmont, 38-24, and attempted 21 free throws to Belmont's five.
 
Dia led three Belmont players in double figures with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists.
 
Tyson had 20 points and five rebounds while Davidson posted 15 points, seven assists and four steals.
 
Swope led Indiana State (19-3, 10-1 MVC) with 17 points.
 
Belmont (12-10, 5-6 MVC) returns to game action Saturday at Missouri 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