Men's Basketball Defeats UIC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball defeated UIC, 87-84, Saturday from the Curb Event Center.
 
After command performances the previous two weekends at College of Charleston and Middle Tennessee, Belmont needed a 57-point second half to open conference play with a victory for the fifth consecutive season.
 
Sam Orme got Belmont off to a fast start, but UIC's active defense and strong bench contributions enabled the visitors to build a lead.
 
The game was tied at 21 before Josiah Hammons and Rashund Washington sparked a 10-0 UIC run.
 
As 3-point field goals off the scouting report mounted, Belmont's halfcourt offense was momentarily out of sorts.
 
In fact, the Bruins got huge first-half contributions from Nic McClain, whose 13 points and four assists carried Belmont.
 
A Jayce Nathaniel basket and another Hammons 3-pointer gave UIC a 43-30 lead at halftime.
 
Though Belmont shot 50 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, UIC – which averaged six 3-point field goals per game entering play – went 9-for-16 from long distance in the first half.
 
Drew Scharnowski led a second half surge for Belmont, as his four points got the Bruins within 49-45 with 14:50 left.
 
In a game that featured six ties and 10 lead changes, Bez Jenkins gave Belmont a 54-53 lead with 11:05 remaining – the Bruins' first lead since 14-11.
 
As Belmont increased its defensive intensity and purpose – and built a strong offensive rhythm - UIC rode the shooting of Hammons, who almost single-handedly carried the offense in the second half.
 
After Andy Johnson gave UIC a 68-65 lead, Jack Smiley scored five straight points to put Belmont back on top.
 
Eoin Dillon added a timely, end-of-shot-clock 3-pointer, before a Tyler Lundblade 3-pointer, and a determined conventional 3-point play from Smiley gave Belmont a 79-73 lead with 1:40 left.
 
Just when Belmont appeared poised to take complete control, Hammons had other ideas.
 
An off-balance 3-pointer with 1:28 left cut the margin in half before Brigham Rogers scored inside to give Belmont an 81-76 lead with just over one minute remaining.
 
Hammons would then be fouled on a 3-point field goal attempt, as his three free throws got UIC within 81-79 with 52 seconds left.
 
With options as how to manage the next possession, Belmont turned to McClain, who drove the lane and found Lundblade in the near corner for a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left to push the lead back to five points, 84-79.
 
Following two Johnson free throws and one McClain free throw, Hammons would make his eighth 3-pointer of the game – another of the twisting, quick-release variety – to get UIC within 85-84 with eight seconds remaining.
 
Lundblade would then make two free throws to increase the Belmont lead back to three points.
 
Belmont played out the final possession, with Hammons missing a 28-footer as time expired.
 
Belmont shot 64 percent from the field in the second half and outscored UIC by four points in the paint.
 
McClain and Lundblade led five Belmont players in double figures with 17 points each. McClain added seven assists.
 
Sam Orme had 16 points, while Scharnowski provided 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots.
 
Smiley scored 11 points.
 
Hammons led UIC (4-6) with a career-high 31 points. Belmont limited UIC leading scorer Ahmad Henderson to a season-low five points.
 
Belmont (10-1) returns to game action Tuesday at Evansville.
 
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.
 
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.