Men's Basketball Drops Heartbreaker to Southern Illinois

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Quel'Ron House made a baseline jump shot with 0.1 seconds remaining as Southern Illinois defeated Belmont University men's basketball, 68-67, Sunday from the Curb Event Center.
 
It was a stunning turn of events, as Belmont led 64-55 with 2:44 left.
 
The Bruins, traditionally known for organization and precision execution late-in games, committed five turnovers in the final media timeout to set the stage for the dramatic ending.
 
Eoin Dillon gave Belmont a 67-66 lead with 5.9 seconds remaining. Following a timeout, House raced the length of the court and wove through several Belmont defenders to make a difficult, contested shot.
 
Belmont welcomed back all-conference forward Sam Orme in a reserve role after he missed the previous two games.
 
The Bruins played without starting point guard Nic McClain.
 
Southern Illinois scored the first five points of the game and led the entirety of the first half.
 
Drew Scharnowski had six points and seven rebounds for Belmont in the first half, but both teams relied on strong defense in a low scoring opening half.
 
Southern Illinois led 26-22 at halftime.
 
Bez Jenkins provided a huge spark in the second half, as his energy plays and coast to coast scores gave Belmont a 38-34 lead with 14:26 left.
 
Southern Illinois, which entered play making just over four 3-point field goals per game, received contributions from Jalen Haynes and Isaiah Stafford from behind the arc to retake the lead.
 
Belmont limited Southern Illinois to two made field goals over a five-minute stretch in the second half, as baskets from Tyler Lundblade and Brigham Rogers gave Belmont a 58-51 lead with 6:18 left.
 
The Bruins demonstrated tremendous ball movement and player movement in the second half, scoring on determined drives and sharp passing inside.
 
Driving layins from Jack Smiley and Isaiah West made the score 62-53 with 4:15 left.
 
After two Jalen Haynes free throws and an exchange of defensive stops, Smiley scored to maintain a nine-point lead, 64-55, with 2:44 left.
 
Southern Illinois answered quickly with a transition 3-pointer from Drew Steffe to get within six points.
 
After Jenkins and House each made one free throw, Belmont committed an inbounding violation with 1:53 left that turned the ball over to Southern Illinois.
 
House proceeded to score inside to get Southern Illinois within 65-51 with 1:46 remaining.
 
Smiley then worked into the frontcourt before his pass along the baseline was stolen by Damien Mayo.
 
Then after a House missed jump shot, Mayo scored inside on a putback basket to get Southern Illinois within 65-63 with 1:15 left.
 
Belmont's next possession went out of bounds along the baseline. But on the ensuing inbounds pass, the Bruins desperately tried to save the ball near midcourt – instead of allowing the ball to go into the backcourt and restarting the possession.
 
The turnover went right to House who drove and was fouled with 44 seconds left.
 
He made one free throw to make the score 65-64.
 
Belmont worked into the frontcourt and looked for Orme, but Win Miller's post feed was stolen by House.
 
He then drove the length of the floor, hung in the air and found Stafford at the last minute for a layin as Southern Illinois led 66-65 with 18 seconds left.
 
It was Southern Illinois' first lead since 46-45.
 
After a timeout, Belmont turned to Dillon, who scored an impressive post jump shot with 5.9 seconds left to put Belmont ahead 67-66.
 
Following a Belmont timeout for defensive substitutions, Southern Illinois passed to House who dribbled down the right sideline and made a tough baseline jump shot at the buzzer.
 
Belmont shot 54 percent from the field – including 71 percent (20-for-28) in the second half.
 
Belmont outscored Southern Illinois, 46-28, in points in the paint.
 
All 10 Belmont players who played scored.
 
Jenkins led Belmont with 17 points, five rebounds, and three steals.
 
House led Southern Illinois (8-8, 2-3 MVC) with 15 points.
 
Belmont entered play 141-2 under head coach Casey Alexander when leading with one minute remaining in the game.
 
Belmont (13-3, 3-2 MVC) returns to game action Wednesday at Northern Iowa.
 
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.