Pierre Leads Men's Basketball Past Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. - - Behind a career-high 28 points from Jonathan Pierre, Belmont University men's basketball defeated defending Atlantic 10 Conference champion Richmond, 93-86, Saturday from the Robins Center.
 
Pierre added nine assists and seven rebounds in a virtuoso performance which kept Belmont among an exclusive group of programs undefeated in true road games this season.
 
Belmont shot 68 percent from the field in the second half and went 13-for-27 from 3-point distance for the game.
 
On a day where college basketball was replete with marquee matchups, the Bruins and Spiders delivered an entertaining game full of huge momentum swings.
 
Pierre and Isaiah Walker combined for the Bruins' first 10 points before three Tyler Lundblade free throws gave Belmont a 13-6 lead.
 
After DeLonnie Hunter gave Richmond a 16-15 lead, Pierre buried his third 3-pointer to spark another Belmont run.
 
A transition 3-pointer from Walker and back-to-back 3-pointers from Lundblade gave Belmont a 37-26 advantage with 3:34 left in the first half.
 
The Bruins were physical and engaged on both ends, dictating tempo, and playing with pace.
 
After Richmond post Mike Walz made his second 3-pointer of the season, Pierre answered with a deep 3-pointer of his own as his enthusiastic play inspired the entire team.
 
Belmont had several promising scoring opportunities late in the first half before Richmond got within 40-34 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 48 percent (14-for-29) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 8-for-17 from 3-point distance.
 
The Bruins forced nine first-half turnovers and outrebounded Richmond, 16-13.
 
A Brigham Rogers post basket and a Pierre paint score made the score 44-35 with 18:22 left.
 
Belmont - which entered play with the nation's fifth-best defensive foul rate and only committed five first-half fouls – were shouldered with significant foul trouble in the second half, in large part due to turnovers.
 
Several Richmond run-outs led to free throw opportunities and layins which halted positive play from the Bruins.
 
After Hunt tied the score at 44, 3-pointers from Rogers and Brody Peebles capped an 8-0 Belmont run.
 
In fact, the midway portion of the second half was a flurry of offensive haymakers, as both teams traded 3-pointers or conventional 3-point plays.
 
Two tough baskets in traffic from Drew Scharnowski helped Belmont maintain a 59-55 lead with 11:45 left.
 
Richmond would work into the bonus with 11:07 remaining, as Rogers and Scharnowski would each pick up their fourth personal foul.
 
Behind Dusan Neskovic, Richmond took a 61-60 lead, before extending to 65-62 with 9:26 left on a Jason Roche 3-pointer.
 
Five straight points from Pierre, a reverse layin from Sam Orme, and a fast break slam from Walker put Belmont back ahead 71-66 with 7:48 left.
 
Richmond would again tie the game, before Pierre delivered even more early holiday gifts.
 
A Pierre chase-down steal on Apostolos Roumoglou led to an alley oop pass to Scharnowski for a slam.
 
Then after a Richmond player control foul, Pierre made a straight-on 3-pointer to give Belmont a 77-71 lead with 5:26 remaining.
 
A crosscourt Pierre assist to Orme for a baseline 3-pointer – followed by a tough Carter Whitt fadeaway – pushed the margin to nine, 82-73.
 
Richmond got within 84-81 before Pierre made a determined drive and score with 1:14 to go.
 
After one Neskovic free throw, Pierre found Orme deep against Richmond pressure, with Lundblade scoring ahead of the defense to make the score 88-82 with 58 seconds left.
 
Belmont would make five of six free throws in the final 43 seconds to secure the victory.
 
All told, Belmont shot 58 percent (33-for-57) from the field and outscored Richmond, 38-32, in points in the paint.
 
Pierre led five Belmont players in double figures with 28 points. Walker and Lundblade each scored 13 points. Peebles scored 11, Whitt 10.
 
Hunt and Neskovic each scored 18 points for Richmond (4-6).
 
Belmont (9-2, 1-0 MVC) returns to game action Thursday, Dec. 19 vs. UC Irvine.
 
Belmont 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.