Strong Second Half Leads Men's Basketball Past Air Force

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind a career-high 21 points from Sam Orme, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Air Force, 79-63, Monday night from the Curb Event Center to open regular season play.
 
Orme went 8-for-12 from the field, adding five rebounds, four assists, and three steals as Belmont used an impressive second half to pull away from the Falcons.
 
Air Force made its first eight shots of the game in leading 19-11 six minutes in.
 
Five points from Orme and a Jack Smiley 3-pointer fueled a 14-2 Belmont run as the Bruins claimed a 25-21 lead.
 
Nic McClain extended the lead to eight points before Air Force received strong contributions from Eli Robinson and Lucas Hobin to close within 39-38 at halftime.
 
Jabez Jenkins sparked Belmont in the second half, as his finishes at the rim and defensive intensity changed momentum.
 
A Jenkins alley oop slam off a McClain feed made the score 59-45 with 11:14 left.

ON HIS HEAD??
McClain to Jenkins for the CLUTCH alley-oop

2H 11:14
Belmont 59
Air Force 45#ItsBruinTime pic.twitter.com/iWqam10map

— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) November 4, 2025

Air Force tried to stay within reach behind the strong play of Kam Sanders, but Belmont's defensive pressure, rebounding, and points in the paint proved decisive.
 
A Tyler Lundblade baseline 3-pointer and five more Orme points – including a conventional 3-point play with 2:14 remaining – secured the outcome.
 
Belmont shot 63 percent from the field in the second half.
 
The Bruins handed out 16 assists and forced 23 Air Force turnovers.
 
Orme led four Belmont players in double figures with 21 points. Lundblade scored 18.
 
McClain had 14 points, four rebounds, and five assists.
 
Jenkins had 13 points – all in the second half.
 
Sanders led Air Force (0-1) with 18 points.
 
Belmont (1-0) has won 21 of its last 22 home openers.
 
Belmont returns to game action Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Tennessee State. Tip-off is set for 7 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 season tickets – which include the entire men's and women's basketball home schedule – are on sale now at belmontbruins.com/tickets. 
 
To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.

?? Postgame @SteveLayman with Coach Alexander#ItsBruinTime pic.twitter.com/m4wFlVlhva

— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) November 4, 2025

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 15 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and Oregon) and 19 or more games in 20 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 six 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 10 consecutive seasons.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont men's basketball on social media - @BelmontMBB on X, formerly Twitter and @belmont_mbb on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. 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.