Men's Basketball Defeats Tulane

CANCUN, Mexico - - Behind active defense and signature team offense, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Tulane, 89-66, Wednesday night in the Cancun Challenge from Hard Rock Resort Riviera Maya.
 
Belmont forced 15 Green Wave turnovers and distributed a season-high 24 assists on 31 made field goals.
 
The Bruins made 18 3-point field goals – the program's most in a game since Feb. 28, 2019. Belmont made 19 3-point field goals in defeating UT Martin, 112-67.
 
The Belmont single-game program record is 20 3-point field goals, set Feb. 24, 2018 vs. Tennessee State.
 
Tyler Lundblade and Jonathan Pierre each made shots from long distance in the first two minutes of the game as Belmont demonstrated poise, purpose and execution on both ends of the floor.
 
Belmont's first seven field goals of the game were from three-point range, as a twisting Drew Scharnowski layin capped a 12-2 run to give the Bruins a 24-21 lead.
 
Strong play from Carter Whitt and Sam Orme enabled Belmont to build a working margin before three consecutive, pinpoint assists from Jonathan Pierre – one to Orme and two to Isaiah Walker – extended the lead to 37-28 with 4:24 left in the first half.
 
A Lundblade 3-pointer pushed Belmont to a 45-35 lead at halftime.
 
Belmont made 12 first-half 3-point field goals, while limiting Tulane to 38 percent shooting and two second-chance points.
 
A Rowan Brumbaugh 3-pointer made the score 54-43 with 15:56 remaining.
 
However, Belmont continued to get outstanding production throughout the lineup as head coach Casey Alexander rotated players in on a regular basis.
 
3-point field goals from Pierre, Aidan Noyes and Brody Peebles – coupled with an Orme offensive rebound basket – increased the margin to 69-46 with 10:41 left.
 
Noyes Belmont's 18^th 3-pointer of the game with 7:27 remaining.
 
Strong perimeter and frontcourt defense – in particular Brigham Rogers – carried the day as Belmont maintained its focus and energy.
 
All told, Belmont shot 47 percent from the field with all 13 players in uniform seeing action.
 
Belmont outscored Tulane, 30-15, in bench points.
 
Lundblade led five Belmont players in double figures with 17 points. Noyes had a career-high 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
 
Pierre had 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. He was named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Walked contributed 12 points and four assists.
 
Whitt posted 10 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals.
 
Asher Woods led Tulane (4-4) with 16 points.
 
Belmont (5-2) returns to game action Friday against Gardner-Webb.
 
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. from the Curb Event Center.
 
Fans are encouraged to take advantage of 50 percent off tickets by logging onto belmontbruins.com and using promo code: BLACKFRIDAY.
 
Belmont season tickets are on sale now at BelmontBruins.com/Tickets, in addition to Puckett's flex packs, single-game tickets and group experiences. Fans can also call or text 615.460.BALL (2255).

To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.

Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
 
Belmont University men's basketball has been a postseason fixture for 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 (behind Gonzaga and Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 14 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and Oregon) and 19 or more games in 19 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and 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 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 its existence. Belmont is the only NCAA Division I institution in America whose men's and women's basketball programs have won 20 or more games in nine consecutive seasons.