First Half Powers Men's Basketball Past Illinois State in MVC Tournament

ST. LOUIS - - Powered by one of its finest first halves in recent memory, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Illinois State, 76-63, Friday in the quarterfinal round of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament.
 
Belmont advances to play [rv/rv] top-seeded and MVC regular season champion Drake Saturday in the semifinal round.
 
In a virtuoso performance of defensive execution, purpose, and shotmaking, Belmont took control from the start in a wire-to-wire victory.
 
A Carter Whitt teardrop and a Tyler Lundblade 3-pointer gave Belmont a 5-0 lead.
 
But the real story was Belmont's engaged, physical defense. Led by Brigham Rogers, the Bruins limited Illinois State to one field goal for nearly the first five minutes.
 
After five points from Landon Wolf got Illinois State within 11-7, consecutive baskets from Jonathan Pierre and Brody Peebles sparked a 12-0 Belmont run.
 
Whitt scored or assisted on 10 consecutive points as Belmont increased the lead to 16, 23-7, with 10:50 left in the first half.
 
A Drew Scharnowski basket and a determined slam from Sam Orme made the score 29-12.
 
Fueled by more defense and rebounding, baskets from Pierre, Whitt, and Isaiah Walker gave Belmont a 41-18 lead at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 58 percent (18-for-31) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 3-for-8 from 3-point distance.
 
Belmont limited Illinois State to 26 percent shooting and forced eight first-half turnovers.
 
Whitt accounted for 27 of Belmont's 41 first-half points between his scoring and passing.
 
Three more defense stops and baskets from Walker and Lundblade gave Belmont a 46-18 lead with 18:33 left.
 
Five clutch points from Peebles answered an Illinois State run and maintained a 21-point advantage with 13:05 remaining.
 
Belmont and Illinois State played a chess match with lineups and substitutions, with Illinois State elected to play smaller much of the second half as the Bruins defended All-MVC center Chase Walker well.
 
As Illinois State elevated its defensive presence, Belmont maintained its focus and fearlessness.
An alley oop dunk from Whitt to Scharnowski and a pocket pass assist from Whitt to Rogers made the score 62-49 with 4:52 left.
 
Then, a Whitt offensive rebound and assist to Orme for a 3-pointer gave Belmont a 65-51 lead with 3:55 remaining.
 
Pierre delivered a trademark bank shot score thereafter.
 
Belmont managed time and score well in the second half, going 9-for-10 from the free throw line in the final 1:32.
 
All told, Belmont shot 44 percent (28-for-63) from the field. The Bruins limited Illinois State – 21^st nationally in effective field goal percentage – to 35 percent from the field, its fourth-lowest shooting performance of the season.
 
For the seventh time this season, Whitt flirted with a triple-double; ultimately landing on 12 points, seven rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals.
 
Lundblade led six Belmont players in double figures with 14 points.
 
Pierre recorded his sixth double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Walker had 11 points and eight rebounds.
 
Orme had 11 points and five rebounds, while Peebles had 11 points and two rebounds.
 
Dalton Banks led Illinois State (19-14) with 19 points.
 
Belmont (22-10) had two teammates (Whitt, Pierre) record double-doubles in the same game for the first time since Pierre and Walker did so at Lipscomb Nov. 12.
 
The Bruins outrebounded Illinois State, 42-38, and outscored the Redbirds, 26-18, in bench points.
 
Tip-off for Belmont-Drake is set for 2:30 p.m. CT from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. 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.

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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 15 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga and Oregon, Kansas can join) 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 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.