Men's Basketball Defeats Gardner-Webb

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind balanced scoring and a strong second-half performance, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Gardner-Webb, 83-74, Friday from the Curb Event Center.
 
Belmont forced 16 Gardner-Webb turnovers and scored 42 bench points in improving to 64-8 at home under head coach Casey Alexander.
 
But it did not come easy as the Bruins endured a slow start for the eighth consecutive game.
 
A Jamaine Mann layin gave Gardner-Webb a 12-3 lead 4:03 in.
 
After a Brody Peebles basket, the visitors extended to a 12-point lead on a conventional 3-point play from Isaiah Richards.
 
Carter Whitt and Tyler Lundblade sparked a Belmont response, which quickly trimmed the deficit to five points.
 
However, second chance points and transition scores fueled Gardner-Webb in the first half.
 
Daryl Simmons gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a 31-18 lead.
 
After making 18 3-point field goals in victory over Tulane Wednesday, Belmont battled through uncharacteristically poor outside shooting.
 
Extra efforts plays from Drew Scharnowski and a wing 3-pointer from Whitt got Belmont within 39-37 at the 1:02 mark.
 
Following a Whitt steal, the Bruins appeared to tie the game but a Belmont driving layin attempt from rimmed off.
 
Gardner-Webb then got a basket from Anthony Selden, a Belmont player control foul, and a conventional 3-point play from Richards to lead 44-37 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 12-for-18 from 2-point distance in the opening 20 minutes. However, Gardner-Webb took advantage of 13 second-chance points and nine points off turnovers.
 
Lundblade delivered a 3-pointer and a 4-point play in the first five minutes of the second half as Belmont got within 52-49 with 14:45 left.
 
After an Aidan Noyes' basket, Lundblade capped a 9-0 Belmont run to give the Bruins their first lead of the game - 54-52 with 12:33 remaining.
 
As Belmont elevated its defensive and rebounding purpose in the second half, Sam Orme provided a significant scoring burst.
 
Orme's seven straight points in a 90-second span gave Belmont the lead to stay.
 
As Gardner-Webb worked through a five-minute field goal drought, a Noyes 3-pointer and a Walker transition layin helped extend the Belmont lead to 72-61.
 
Rogers made two determined post baskets down the stretch as Belmont had 17 made field goals in the second half.
 
A Walker dunk made it 83-69 with 49 seconds left.
 
All told, Belmont shot 46 percent from the field. The Bruins limited Gardner-Webb to 32 percent shooting in the second half.
 
Lundblade led four Belmont players in double figures with 15 points.
 
Scharnowski had 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.
 
Whitt had 11 points and four assists.
 
Walker contributed 10 points, six rebounds and four steals.
 
Simmons led Gardner-Webb (4-4) with 23 points.
 
Belmont (6-2) returns to game action Wednesday, Dec. 4 against Illinois State.
 
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).

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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.