Whitt Leads Men's Basketball Past Indiana State

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - - Behind a career-high 25 points from Carter Whitt, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Indiana State, 84-79, Saturday afternoon from the Hulman Center.
 
Whitt went 10-for-19 from the field and added six assists and five rebounds, scoring, or assisting on 10 straight points in the final 4:09 as Belmont won its third straight game.
 
Belmont also won its MVC-best fourth true road game.
 
For Belmont, it was a far different story than last year's trip to Terre Haute, when Isaiah Swope, Robbie Avila and company raced to a convincing win.
 
This edition, the Bruins came out purposeful, resolute, and connected on both ends.
 
In a game featuring two of the nation's highest scoring and top 3-point shooting teams, big scoring runs and momentum swings were expected.
 
Belmont limited Indiana State to two field goals in the first five minutes as five Whitt points gave Belmont a 12-5 lead.
 
An Aidan Noyes 3-pointer and more strong play from Whitt and Brigham Rogers extended the margin to 13, 24-11, midway through the first half.
 
The Bruins, which entered play among the top teams nationally in defending without fouling, had to navigate significant foul trouble right away.
 
Isaiah Walker, Jonathan Pierre, and Sam Orme were all saddled with early fouls, forcing Belmont deep to its bench including guard Jake Dykstra.
 
Rogers continued his stretch of inspired play, scoring inside, keeping plays alive, defending at the rim, and taking charges.
 
A Whitt jump shot and two 3-pointers from Tyler Lundblade gave the Bruins an 8-0 run and a 34-21 lead with 5:38 in the first half.
 
Dykstra gave Belmont a nice lift - +7 in five minutes – as his two rebounds and an assist on a Brody Peebles 3-pointer made the score 42-30.
 
Belmont led 42-32 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 48 percent (15-for-31) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 7-for-17 from 3-point distance.
 
Belmont forced nine first-half turnovers.
 
A Rogers layin and a Pierre 3-pointer gave Belmont a 48-34 lead with 17:57 left.
 
But following a Walker layin, Indiana State found an offensive rhythm behind Jaden Daughtry and Aaron Gray.
 
Whitt would answer with back-to-back 3-pointers to make the score 56-45 with 14:52 remaining.
 
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander went deep into his bench, his bags of tricks, and whiteboard to keep the Bruins going.
 
But after a Walker drive, Belmont endured a rare 5-minute offensive scoring drought and Indiana State capitalized.
 
Seven points from Samage Teel and two Gray free throws capped a 12-0 Indiana State run to give the Sycamores a 63-62 lead with 7:41 left – their first lead of the game.
 
It was a hard stretch for Belmont which had played a courageous first 28 minutes on the road – a stretch of missed shots at the rim, missed connections on passes and four missed free throws brought the home crowd to its feet and forced the Bruins to dig deep.
 
Rogers answered with a determined post move before reserve big Derek Vorst made his first 3-pointer of the season to put Indiana State back on top.
 
Pierre then delivered back-to-back clutch 3-pointers before a transition finish from Walker gave Belmont a 72-70 lead with 4:44 remaining.
 
That is when Whitt truly took over.
 
After two free throws, Whitt made a free throw line step back jump shot to make the score 76-72 with 3:41 left.
 
After three Indiana State free throws, Whitt then added a driving one-hander and a baseline fadeaway to increase the margin to five, 80-75 with 1:28 left.
 
Belmont appeared to get a defensive stop following a Camp Wagner miss, but Daughtry came up with a loose ball rebound and scored to get Indiana State within three points.
 
The Bruins worked their next possession as Whitt found Orme underneath for an easy two.
 
Then after two Daughtry missed free throws, Pierre found Orme all alone for a dunk and an 84-77 lead with 14 seconds left.
 
All told, Belmont shot 52 percent (31-for-60) from the field – including 12-for-26 from 3-point distance. Belmont outrebounded Indiana State, 40-36, and scored 34 points in the paint.
 
Whitt led five Belmont players in double figures with 25 points. Rogers had 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Pierre had 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
Walker and Lundblade each scored 10.
 
Daughtry led Indiana State (9-8, 3-3 MVC) with 23 points.
 
Belmont (12-5, 4-2 MVC) returns to game action Tuesday vs. Valparaiso.
 
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).

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

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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.