Men's Basketball Makes Huge Statement With Dominant Victory at UC Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. - - Behind a dominant second-half performance, Belmont University men's basketball defeated UC Irvine, 84-58, Friday night from the Bren Events Center.
 
In a season full of inspired team efforts, the Bruins took it to another level against the always formidable Anteaters and defending NIT Runner-Up.
 
Belmont outscored UC Irvine 46-22 in the second half in becoming the nation's first 12-win team this season.
 
Belmont has won all seven games away from home this season, by a combined 150 points.
 
It also marked the largest margin of victory for an opponent at UC Irvine since Feb. 8, 1997.
 
Five quick points from Jack Smiley and a Drew Scharnowski dunk pushed Belmont to a 15-12 lead six and a half minutes in.
 
Following a Kyle Evans basket, Belmont used the ferocious, relentless play of Scharnowski to spark a 14-1 run.
 
After a Sam Orme layin and Win Miller 3-pointer, Scharnowski scored seven straight points in physical fashion to make the score 31-20.
 
UC Irvine responded with a 16-3 run of its own behind Jurian Dixon. His six straight points gave the Anteaters a brief 36-34 lead with 1:43 left in the first half.
 
Belmont closed the half well, as three defensive stops and free throws from Tyler Lundblade and Nic McClain provided a 38-36 halftime lead.
 
10-for-13 from the free throw line helped the Belmont cause.
 
The Bruins started the second half locked in. A Lundblade 3-pointer, five McClain points, and a Brigham Rogers basket gave Belmont a 48-38 lead with 16:59 left.
 
Despite a four-point play and another 3-pointer from Andre Henry, Belmont answered back behind timely shooting from Eoin Dillon.
 
His back-to-back 3-pointers made the score 54-45 with 15:35 remaining.
 
UC Irvine got within 58-50 on two Jovan Jester free throws, before consecutive Lundblade 3-pointers fueled a decisive Belmont run.
 
Belmont limited UC Irvine to one made field goal over a 12-minute stretch, as baskets from Miller, Smiley, Orme, and Isaiah West increased the margin to 19, 72-53, with 6:17 left.
 
Dillon would add two more 3-pointers before an impressive driving slam from Orme capped the spectacular second half.
 
All told, Belmont shot 59 percent in the second half while holding UC Irvine to 6-for-25 shooting and outrebounding the Anteaters, 23-11.
 
Scharnowski led five Belmont players in double figures with 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
 
Orme recorded his second double-double with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
 
McClain had 12 points, eight assists, and four rebounds.
 
Dillon scored a career-high 12 points.
 
Lundblade contributed 11 points.
 
Dixon led UC Irvine (7-5) with 17 points.
 
Belmont held accomplished UC Irvine guard Derin Saran to three points on 1-for-9 shooting.
 
Belmont (12-1, 2-0 MVC) returns to game action Dec. 29 at Indiana State.
 
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.