Men's Basketball Defeats Valparaiso

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball defeated Valparaiso, 71-64, Tuesday night from the Curb Event Center.
 
Tyler Lundblade had 17 points as Belmont won its seventh straight game in the series.
 
Behind strong early play from Brigham Rogers and Lundblade, Belmont jumped out to a 15-4 lead five minutes in.
 
The visiting Beacons, among the nation's most improved teams, had valued the basketball most of the season but battled live ball turnovers in the first half.
 
Consecutive layins from Isaiah Walker made the score 27-15.
 
Valparaiso got significant bench contributions from Justus McNair and Isaiah Shaw to stay in contact before Brody Peebles capped an 8-0 run to make the score 39-23 at the 4:27 mark.
 
However, a series of missed free throws late in the first half halted Bruin momentum as Belmont led 40-30 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 48 percent (15-for-31) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Bruins scored 20 points in the paint in the first half.
 
Valparaiso carried positive play defensively into the second half, as a Shaw basket tied the score at 43 with 14:38 left.
 
Averaging 82 points per game and eclipsing 90 points six times this season, the Bruins had to work through a rare offensive dry spell after having a true rhythm for the opening 15 minutes.
 
A Carter Whitt layin and an Aidan Noyes 3-pointer pushed the Belmont lead to five points with 12:34 remaining.
 
After more strong play from McNair, Cooper Schwieger gave Valparaiso its first lead of the game, 53-52, with 9:14 left.
 
A timely conventional 3-point play from Rogers put Belmont back on top, 56-53, with 8:00 left, as both teams battled to string defensive stops and scores together.
 
Though clean 3-point looks uncharacteristically rimmed out, Belmont scratched and clawed for scoring opportunities.
 
Second-chance points and free throws proved critical in the second half.
 
Two Walker free throws made the score 65-61 with 4:58 remaining.
 
Belmont earned four straight defensive stops before Whitt drove the lane for layin to give Belmont a 67-62 lead with 2:09 left.
 
Lundblade would add two free throws on the Bruins' next possession.
 
But the Belmont defense was the story, as Valparaiso went five minutes down the stretch without a field goal before a basket from All Wright with nine seconds remaining provided the final margin.
 
Belmont limited Valparaiso to 36 percent shooting while forcing 17 turnovers.
 
Lundblade led four Belmont players in double figures with 17 points.
 
Walker had 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
Whitt had 10 points, five rebounds, and four steals, while Rogers added 10 points, three rebounds, and two steals.
 
Jonathan Pierre led Belmont with seven assists.
 
McNair led Valparaiso (10-8, 3-4 MVC) with 19 points.
 
Belmont (13-5, 5-2 MVC) returns to game action Saturday at Evansville.
 
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.