Pierre, Whitt Lead Men's Basketball Past UIC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind 22 points from Jonathan Pierre, Belmont University men's basketball defeated UIC, 92-87, Saturday from the Curb Event Center.
 
Pierre added eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals and his clutch basket with 15 seconds remaining gave Belmont a 3-point lead to help secure the victory.
 
UIC entered having won five consecutive games – including victory Wednesday over previously unbeaten Drake – for its longest such streak this far into a season since 2018.
 
Eight early points from Isaiah Walker and a conventional 3-point play from Drew Scharnowski gave Belmont a 16-12 lead seven minutes in.

Win Miller and Aidan Noyes also provided key production off the bench.
 
After baskets from Pierre and Carter Whitt, UIC received a huge lift from Ahmad Henderson.
 
Henderson, who entered play 10-for-46 from 3-point distance this season, made three first-half 3-point field goals to lead the UIC offense.
 
The game featured quality pace and offensive rhythm, with neither team leading by more than two possessions.
 
A Tyler Lundblade 3-pointer and five Whitt points helped Belmont lead 46-43 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 42 percent (15-for-36) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 6-for-16 from 3-point distance.
 
Whitt led Belmont with 12 first-half points.
 
Belmont forced eight first-half turnovers.
 
After one Sasa Ciani free throw, Belmont got a driving basket from Walker and consecutive 3-pointers from Pierre and Sam Orme to increase the lead to 10, 54-44, with 18:20 left.
 
Another tough finish from Whitt, a bank shot from Brigham Rogers and two Pierre free throws made the score 61-49.
 
Belmont also did an outstanding job on the backboards, limiting one of the nation's top offensive rebounding teams to one shot.
 
But as Belmont tried to assume control, UIC had a quick response.
 
A Modestas Kancleris conventional 3-point play started a 14-4 run, as UIC got within 65-63 on a Henderson 3-pointer.
 
Belmont answered back.
A Whitt 3-pointer, a baseline Walker layin and a Scharnowski putback basket gave Belmont a 72-63 lead with 10:22 left.
 
Both teams managed lineups well, with substitutions and lineup adjustments leading to interesting matchups during the game.
 
After a Pierre 3-pointer, Javon Jackson capped an 8-0 run with a conventional 3-point play to tie the game at 75 with 6:20 remaining.
 
Pierre then added a 3-pointer and a determined driving layin to put Belmont ahead 82-77 with 3:49 left.
 
After a Rogers steal, Brody Peebles would score along the baseline to make the score 88-81 with 1:59 remaining.
 
That's when UIC made a final push.
 
Two Jordan Mason free throws trimmed the margin to five points.
 
Then after a rare miss from Pierre – on the front-end of one-and-one free throws – Walker would be called for a rebounding foul on Tyem Freeman with 1:11 remaining.
 
Freeman, a career 75 percent free throw shooter, would surprisingly miss both free throws. But Kancleris got a loose ball rebound and score to get UIC within 88-85 with 1:08 left.
 
Belmont proceeded to use clock its next offensive possession, with a Whitt drive contested by Kancleris at the rim.
 
UIC gathered the rebound and sped upcourt, finding Ethan Pickett at full speed for a baseline slam. Lundblade fouled Pickett in the act of shooting, giving UIC a chance to tie the game with 40 seconds left.
 
Pickett would miss the potential game-tying free throw, and Whitt secured the rebound for Belmont.
 
The Bruins then found Pierre on the block, who scored a tough basket over multiple defenders with 15 seconds left to make the score 90-87.
 
Following a timeout, UIC had multiple options.
 
The Flames turned to Jackson, who drove the baseline and pitched back to Henderson in the corner for a potential game-tying 3-pointer.
 
His shot would rim off and Walker grabbed the rebound for Belmont.
 
Walker would make both ends of the one-and-one free throws with six seconds left to provide the final outcome.
 
All told, Belmont shot 48 percent (32-for-67) from the field – including 55 percent in the second half.
 
Belmont outrebounded UIC, 42-33. UIC entered the game first in the MVC in offensive rebounding and second in rebound margin.
 
It marked Belmont's fifth 90-point game of the season.
 
Pierre led three Belmont players in double figures with 22 points.
 
Whitt delivered another outstanding game with 20 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
 
Walker had 18 points, five rebounds, and two steals.
 
Rogers had eight points, a career-high 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
 
Henderson led UIC (9-5, 2-2 MVC) with 18 points.
 
Belmont (10-5, 2-2 MVC) returns to game action Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois for student welcome back night.

Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. from the Curb Event Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Steve Layman can be heard on Belmont Bruins Radio. In-game updates will be available via Twitter @BelmontMBB.

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.

Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
 
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.

NOTE: Belmont student Mason Fuller made a halfcourt shot during a timeout with 8:25 left in the second half to earn a free semester of tuition.

MASON FULLER HITS THE HALF COURT SHOT FOR FREE TUITION ????@espn | @MarchMadnessMBB | @ValleyHoops #ItsBruinTime | #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/MAOPpBLZqY

— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) January 4, 2025