Men's Basketball Sets 3-Point Field Goal Record in Victory over Evansville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind a program-record 21 3-point field goals, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Evansville, 98-64, Wednesday night from the Curb Event Center.
 
The Bruins' previous record – 20 3-point field goals vs. Tennessee State Feb. 24, 2018 – was eclipsed on a shot by Eoin Dillon in the second half.
 
Tyler Lundblade made five 3-pointers in the game, to break his own Belmont NCAA Division I era single-season 3-point field goal record. He has 107 3-point field goals on the season.
 
Belmont (26-4, 16-3 MVC) also recorded its 11^th 50-point second half of the season.
 
After securing the outright Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship Feb. 21 vs. Indiana State, Belmont roared from the opening tip in an overwhelming, wire-to-wire victory.
 
Belmont, the national leader in effective field goal percentage, got 11 quick points from Sam Orme to lead 19-7 just over six minutes into the game.
 
Baskets from Bez Jenkins and Cooper Haynes and a baseline score from Drew Scharnowski increased the margin to 17, 30-13, with 10:11 left in the first half.
 
Belmont went to the bench early and often during the game, with Jack Smiley, Dillon, and Haynes sparking strong bench contributions.
 
Consecutive 3-pointers from Haynes, Lundblade, and Aidan Noyes gave Belmont a 44-29 lead at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 56 percent (15-for-27) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 10-for-18 from 3-point distance.
 
The Bruins forced eight first-half turnovers.
 
3-pointers from Orme, Lundblade, and Smiley extended the margin to 20, 53-33, with 17:14 left in the game.
 
Belmont, which entered the game +354 in points in the paint on the season, forced Evansville to pack its defense inside, providing openings behind the arc in the halfcourt and transition.
 
Walk-on Jake Dykstra got significant playing time, as his 3-pointer made the score 69-38 with 12:18 left.
 
Belmont maintained its purpose and intensity throughout, turning defensive stops into high-percentage scoring opportunities.
 
Brigham Rogers and Drew Scharnowski secured frontcourt production as the energized student section implored Belmont to set the 3-point record – which Dillon delivered down the stretch.
 
All told, Belmont shot 57 percent (35-for-61) from the field – including 21-for-37 from 3-point distance. Eight different Bruins made 3-point field goals.
 
Belmont had 24 assists on 35 made field goals, outrebounded Evansville, 34-24, and outscored Evansville, 52-8, in bench points.
 
Nine Belmont players scored six or more points.
 
Lundblade led four Belmont players in double figures with 15 points. Orme had 14 points and three rebounds.
 
Dillon had 12 points and four rebounds. Smiley had 10 points and five assists.
 
AJ Casey led Evansville (6-23, 2-16 MVC) with 21 points.
 
Belmont leads the nation in road/neutral victories - with an average margin of victory away from home of nearly 16 points.
 
Belmont also ranks among national leaders in Q1/Q2 winning percentage, among the likes of Michigan, Duke, Arizona, and Gonzaga.
 
Belmont has won 13 of its last 14 games and has only lost one game in regulation since Dec. 4.
 
Belmont (26-4, 16-3 MVC) returns to game action March 1 at Illinois 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 21 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (behind Gonzaga and Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 16 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga and Kansas; Oregon can join) and 19 or more games in 21 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga and Kansas; San Diego State can join). 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.
 
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