Men's Basketball Reaches Century Mark Again, Defeats Drake For Eighth Straight Win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind a second consecutive offensive tour de force, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Drake, 103-90, Tuesday night from the Curb Event Center.
 
After scoring 103 points in victory over rival Murray State Jan. 31, Belmont delivered an encore performance – shooting 59 percent from the field, handing out 25 assists, and making a season-high 17 3-point field goals to remain atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings.
 
Per Ken Pomeroy, Belmont is believed to be just the third team in America this season to record back-to-back offensive efficiency games over 145.0 against NCAA Division I opponents – joining Illinois and Iowa.
 
The Bruins lead the nation in true road victories (9) and road/neutral victories (11).
 
Five quick points from Sam Orme and a 3-pointer from Bez Jenkins got Belmont out to an 8-2 lead 90 seconds into the game.
 
A Brigham Rogers conventional 3-point play and 3-pointers from Jack Smiley and Tyler Lundblade capped an 11-1 Belmont run to make the score 21-14 with 13:30 left in the first half.
 
Jenkins and Eoin Dillon would have limited playing time early due to fouls, but Smiley and Lundblade carried the scoring torch – combining on 22 first-half points.
 
Both teams showcased high-level offense, with pace, skill, and shotmaking.
 
Each time Belmont appeared poised to build a double-figure lead, Drake would answer.
 
3-pointers from Jalen Quinn and Owen Larson got Drake within 40-35, before long distance makes from Lundblade and Dillon gave Belmont a 51-43 lead at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 67 percent (20-for-30) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 10-for-17 from 3-point distance.
 
Belmont scored 13 points off seven Drake turnovers.
 
Nine different Bruins scored in the first half.
 
Orme and Drew Scharnowski combined to score Belmont's first seven points of the second half as the lead grew to 13, 58-45, with 17:39 left.
 
After a second-chance 3-pointer from Smiley, Belmont head coach Casey Alexander went deep into his bench with a lineup featuring Scharnowski, Isaiah West, Aidan Noyes, Win Miller, and Cooper Haynes.
 
The lineup delivered energized, purposeful play during a five-minute stretch, with a Miller 3-pointer and a Haynes driving layin increasing the lead to 11, 66-55, with 12:24 left.
 
From there, Scharnowski took over the game, with a flurry of hustle plays, rebounds, defensive stops, and astounding offensive scores.
 
Three straight baskets – punctuated by a powerful, highlight-reel dunk gave Belmont a 72-56 lead with 10:50 left.
 
Drake got as close as nine points behind Andrew Alia and Jalen Quinn, but five straight points from Jenkins provided an immense lift.
 
Orme would cap the night with three straight 3-pointers in 67-second span to make the score 96-77 with 2:44 left.
 
All told, Belmont shot 59 percent (39-for-66) from the field – handing out 25 assists on a season-high 39 field goals.
 
Belmont outscored Drake, 42-34, in points in the paint, and 39-25, in bench points.
 
Orme led five Belmont players in double figures with a career-high 22 points. He added four rebounds and four assists.
 
Scharnowski continued his fine play with 19 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
 
Smiley had 18 points and six assists.
 
Lundblade recorded his 21^st double figure scoring game of the season with 11 points and four rebounds.
 
Jenkins added to his impressive run of play at the Curb Event Center with 10 points.
 
Quinn led Drake (12-12, 6-7 MVC) with 22 points.
 
Belmont has won eight straight games.
 
The back-to-back 103-point games vs. Murray State and Drake represent the first time Belmont has eclipsed the century mark in consecutive games since defeating Bethel (Ind.) and Southeast Missouri in the 2021-22 season.
 
Belmont is also just the fifth team in Missouri Valley Conference history to reach 20 victories by Jan. 31, joining 2014 Wichita State, 1986 Bradley, 2012 Creighton, and 2015 Northern Iowa.
 
Belmont (21-3, 11-2 MVC) returns to game action Friday at UIC.
 
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 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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