Men's Basketball Defeats Valparaiso

VALPARAISO, Ind. - - Behind a career-high 23 points from Eoin Dillon, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Valparaiso, 78-77, Wednesday night from the Athletics-Recreation Center.
 
Dillon went 7-for-11 from the field and made four straight free throws in the final nine seconds of the game to help secure Belmont's NCAA-best 11^th victory away from home this season.
 
Jack Smiley made a triumphant return to his hometown of Valparaiso, Indiana, as his three consecutive 3-point field goals within a 92-second span upon entering the game helped push the Belmont lead to 22-13 less than eight minutes in – to the excitement of a large Smiley support section behind the Bruin bench.
 
However, a stretch of Belmont turnovers and strong Valparaiso bench contributions worked the hosts back into the game.
 
After a Sam Orme basket, JT Pettigrew capped a 9-0 Valparaiso run to tie the score at 24.
 
The first half was characterized by several huge momentum swings, as Belmont proceeded to answer back with 10 straight points.
 
Two Dillon 3-pointers and strong inside finishes from Drew Scharnowski and Bez Jenkins made the score 34-24 with 6:10 left in the first half.
 
Belmont had to manage significant foul trouble in the first half as head coach Casey Alexander made numerous substitutions and played several non-traditional lineups.
 
Tucker Tornatta and Carter Hopoi gave Valparaiso a lift late in the first half, closing the margin within two points.
 
More strong play from Jenkins, including a gorgeous baseline score to close the first half gave Belmont a 42-38 lead at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 60 percent (15-for-25) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 6-for-12 from 3-point distance.
 
However, 10 Belmont turnovers and 14 Valparaiso free throw attempts in the first half inhibited the lead from building.
 
Dillon, Jenkins, and Smiley scored 30 of Belmont's 40 first-half points.
 
A Scharnowski dunk and a Dillon 3-pointer gave Belmont a 47-42 lead with 18:34 left.
 
However, Valparaiso scored on six of its first seven possessions of the second half, taking a 52-50 lead on a Brody Whitaker jump shot.
 
From there, Belmont held Valparaiso scoreless for a five-minute stretch, as a Smiley baseline layin and two Rogers putback baskets pushed Belmont to a 57-54 lead with 10:26 left.
 
Tyler Lundblade added a 3-pointer before a Tornatta conventional 3-point play and a Rakim Chaney score capped an 8-0 Valparaiso run as the Beacons led 64-60 with 7:53 left.
 
Rogers scored to get Belmont within two points as Belmont held Valparaiso without a field goal for another four-minute stretch.
 
Owen Dease gave Valparaiso a 68-64 lead with 3:53 left before Belmont closed with purpose, execution, and shot making.
 
A relentless Scharnowski putback basket got things started – and after a defensive stop – Dillon found Jenkins along the baseline for a 3-pointer that gave the Bruins a 69-68 lead with 2:32 left.
 
Chaney made one free throw before Dillon delivered a 3-pointer with 1:51 left to make the score 72-69.
 
Belmont forced Valparaiso into several perimeter shots, but Shon Tupuola kept plays alive with offensive rebounding.
 
His off-balance tip-in got Valparaiso within one, 72-71, with 50 seconds left.
 
After a Belmont empty possession, Valparaiso turned to Dease, who drove the lane but missed a twisting shot in traffic.
 
Rogers secured the defensive rebound, and found Isaiah West, who was fouled with 23 seconds left.
 
West calmly sank both free throws to make the score 74-71.
 
Dease would then proceed to miss a contested 3-point attempt. As Tupuola freed to secure the offensive rebound, his pass back out the perimeter sailed over the Valparaiso bench out of bounds.
 
Though originally ruled Valparaiso possession, officials awarded possession to Belmont following a monitor review with 11 seconds left.
 
Dillon would then make two free throws with nine seconds left to make the score 76-71.
 
Chaney made a 25-footer with 2.9 seconds left to get Valparaiso within 76-74.
 
Belmont delivered a strong inbounds pass to Dillon, who was fouled with 2.4 seconds left.
 
He again made two free throws to make it a two-possession game.
 
Chaney made a leaning, 40-footer as the horn sounded to provide the final score.
 
All told, Belmont shot 54 percent (27-for-50) from the field – including 11-for-24 from 3-point distance. Belmont's two games against the Beacons – among the top 3-point defenses in the MVC - represented the top two 3-point shooting games against Valparaiso this season.
 
Belmont handed out 18 assists and outrebounded Valparaiso, 32-30.
 
Belmont outscored Valparaiso, 42-22, in bench points.
 
Belmont played a seventh straight game without point guard and MVC assist leader Nic McClain.
 
Dillon led four Belmont players in double figures with 23 points. Jenkins continued his strong play with 14 points and five rebounds.
 
Smiley had 11 points while Lundblade had 10.
 
Scharnowski had a career-high eight assists.
 
Dease and Chaney led Valparaiso (10-11, 4-6 MVC) with 15 points each. Valparaiso had won its previous four home games entering play.
 
Belmont joins Gonzaga as the only two programs in America to win 19 or more games in 21 consecutive seasons; Kansas and San Diego State can join the group.
 
Belmont (19-3, 9-2 MVC) returns to game action Saturday vs. Murray 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 21 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.