Men's Basketball Falls in Final Seconds at Illinois State

NORMAL, Ill. - - Johnny Kinziger hit a twisting 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining to lift Illinois State to an 81-78 victory over Belmont University men's basketball Wednesday night from Doug Collins Court at CEFCU Arena.
 
Belmont got two clean looks at game-tying 3-pointers in the final eight seconds but neither shot would go to force overtime.
 
It was a tough result as Belmont fought through significant adversity throughout the game.
 
Belmont got off to a slow start, as the Bruins made one field goal in the opening 5:08. A Landon Wolf basket gave Illinois State an 8-2 lead.
 
An extremely physical game materialized, in stark contrast to the free-flowing game played in Nashville Dec. 4.
 
Two 3-pointers from Sam Orme and one from Brody Peebles tied the score at 13 eight minutes in.
 
From there, Jonathan Pierre carried much of the offensive load, scoring seven points in a 90-second span.
 
An Aidan Noyes 3-pointer and baskets from Pierre and Peebles gave Belmont its first lead, 31-29, with 2:16 left in the first half.
 
Illinois State would score the final six points of the first half to lead 35-31 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 40 percent (12-for-30) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 7-for-13 from 3-point distance.
 
The Bruins were +10 in bench points at halftime, but nine first-half turnovers hurt the cause.
 
Illinois State carried momentum into the second half as Jordan Davis capped a 9-0 run to open the second 20 minutes to make the score 44-31 with 18:00 left.
 
Pierre responded with consecutive 3-pointers before an determined Orme drive got Belmont within six points.
 
Carter Whitt and Orme continued the positive play with back-to-back scores getting Belmont within 50-46 with 14:12 remaining.
 
The Bruins established the paint in the second half off the bounce and precision passing, finding a true offensive rhythm after a tough first half.
 
But each time Belmont appeared on the verge of retaking the lead, Illinois State would make a timely 3-pointer.
 
Makes from Kinziger and Malachi Poindexter made the score 58-52 with 11:42 left.
 
Belmont closed within 61-60 on a Whitt drive, before a key sequence with eight minutes remaining.
 
Reserve forward Cameron Barnes scored a second-chance basket – then following a Peebles rim out from 3-point distance – Kinziger made to give Illinois State a 66-60 lead with 6:54 remaining.
 
Baskets from Ty Pence and Jack Daugherty pushed the margin to nine.
 
Pierre and Orme once again led the Belmont charge, scoring nine points to get the Bruins within 75-71 with 1:39 left.
 
On the next Illinois State possession, the Redbirds found Wolf for a driving lane and strong finish at the rim with 1:15 remaining.
 
After his score, Wolf would be whistled for a technical foul.
 
Tyler Lundblade made two free throws before Pierre added two more on the Bruins' subsequent possession to get Belmont within 77-75 with 55 seconds left.
 
Whitt fouled Kinziger going for a steal on the Illinois State inbounds pass and Kinziger made one free throw to extend the margin to three points.
 
Belmont then proceeded to look for Walker cutting to the basket. The entry pass was deflected, however Walker regathered and found Pierre for a 3-pointer in the deep corner with 42 seconds left to tie the score at 78.
 
Following an Illinois State timeout, Belmont implemented a surprise double team on Kinziger along the sideline. Kinziger proceeded to lose possession momentarily, recover, and find Chase Walker along the baseline.
 
Illinois State then reset the offense, and late in the possession Kinziger made a contested 3-pointer with 12 seconds left.
 
Belmont sped into the frontcourt with Whitt, who worked into the lane and passed to Orme for a clean 3-pointer with eight seconds left.
 
The shot rimmed out but Orme grabbed his own offensive rebound. He then had the presence of mind to find Pierre crosscourt for another potential game-tying 3-point attempt in the final seconds, but that too rimmed off as the horn sounded.
 
Belmont shot 44 percent (28-for-64) from the field – including 12-for-27 from 3-point distance.
 
Belmont outrebounded Illinois State, 40-35, and outscored Illinois State, 29-18, in bench points.
 
Jonathan Pierre led three Belmont players in double figures with 27 points.
 
Sam Orme had a career-high 20 points and five rebounds.
 
Isaiah Walker provided 10 points and nine rebounds.
 
Whitt had a game-high seven assists.
 
Kinziger and Chase Walker each scored 22 points for Illinois State (13-9, 5-6 MVC).
 
Belmont (15-7, 7-4 MVC) returns to game action Sunday vs. 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.