Men's Basketball Defeats Drake in Total Team Effort

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind a career-high 32 points from Malik Dia, Belmont University men's basketball defeated defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Drake, 87-65, Sunday from the Curb Event Center.
 
Dia went 10-for-16 from the field and added seven rebounds and three assists as Belmont delivered an emotional, wire-to-wire team performance.
 
Dia made two 3-point field goals in the opening 58 seconds of the game as the Bruins extended to a 12-6 lead on a Keishawn Davidson jump shot.
 
Belmont played its most spirited and unified defense of the season, pressuring Drake into contested shots and turnovers.
 
Baskets from Isaiah Walker and Davidson around two more determined scores from Dia highlighted an 8-0 Belmont run to extend the margin to 23-15 with 6:22 left in the first half.
 
Tucker DeVries helped Drake get within 27-24 before Dia continued his inspired play with consecutive 3-pointers and two free throws to increase the margin to 11 points.
 
After another Belmont defensive stop and pursuit of a loose ball in front of the Belmont bench, Drake would close the margin behind a five-point possession; two technical free throws and a Kevin Overton 3-pointer.
 
Davidson responded with a clutch 3-pointer on Belmont's next possession to make the score 38-29 with 1:07 left in the first half.
 
The Bruins closed the first half in strong fashion, with two more defensive stops and free throws from Cade Tyson and Brigham Rogers to lead 42-29 at halftime.
 
Drake, which had not trailed for 55 minutes of conference action, throttled Mountain West stronghold Nevada, and was among the NCAA leaders in offensive efficiency and turnover margin, was never able to find its footing.
 
And full credit to the Bruins' defense.
 
Belmont held Drake to 42 percent shooting and forced nine Bulldog turnovers in the first half.
 
Dia scored 21 first-half points.
 
During halftime, Belmont prepared for a response from Drake – like them a tradition-rich program with championship history.
 
And the Bruins remained locked in and purposeful on both ends.
 
3-pointers from Jayce Willingham and Walker gave Belmont a 48-29 lead with 19:08 left.
 
Drake got within 54-42 on a Colby Garland basket before the Bruins answered back with a decisive run – largely fueled by bench contributions.
 
Jake Dykstra, Kyler Vanderjagt and Win Miller scored seven points in a 68-second span to push the margin to 21.
 
After more strong defense which limited Drake to two field goals over a five-plus minute stretch, Walker and Dia added timely 3-pointers to make the score 73-46 with 8:56 left.
 
In fact, Dia scored 10 consecutive points – including a coast-to-coast steal and slam – to give Belmont an 81-49 lead with 6:12 remaining.
 
All told, Belmont shot 57 percent from the field – including 14-for-19 in the second half. The Bruins held Drake to a season-low 65 points.
 
Dia led four Bruins in double figures with 32 points. Davidson had 14 points and four rebounds.
 
Walker scored a career-high 13 points while Willingham added 10.
 
Tyson scored nine points while holding DeVries to 4-for-10 shooting and forcing five turnovers.
 
Atin Wright led Drake (12-3, 3-1 MVC) with 14 points.
 
Belmont (10-5, 3-1 MVC) returns to game action Wednesday vs. Illinois State.

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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