Men's Basketball Falls in MVC Quarterfinal Round

ST. LOUIS - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 100-79 decision to Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinal round Friday from the Enterprise Center.
 
It was a result equal parts stunning and agonizing, as Belmont won 26 games en route to the conference regular season championship – with its five previous setbacks all coming in the final possessions of games.
 
Moreover, Belmont had been a Top 50 program in metrics all season, entering the conference tournament first in effective field goal percentage and 26^th in field goal percentage defense.
 
But on this day, Drake revived its historical positive mojo from the Enterprise Center, extending its conference record win streak in the MVC Tournament to 11 games. 
 
Belmont got off to an electric start, as 3-pointers from Tyler Lundblade and Sam Orme gave the Bruins a 6-0 lead.
 
A post basket from Bez Jenkins, and 3-pointers from Eoin Dillon and Aidan Noyes increased the lead to 14-7.
 
Drake found a rhythm behind Owen Larson, as consecutive 3-pointers from Jalen Quinn and Andrew Alia tied the game at 15.
 
An Orme 3-pointer and two Noyes free throws made the score 30-26 with 8:02 left in the first half.
 
Quinn and Eli Shetlar would combined to score 10 points during a 18-5 run that gave Drake a 44-35 lead with 3:26 left in the first half.
 
A Drew Scharnowski basket and a Brigham Rogers conventional 3-point play got Belmont within 44-40.
 
Drake led 48-41 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 50 percent (14-for-28) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 8-for-19 from 3-point distance.
 
The Bruins, who had taken advantage of transition scores and attacking the rim in their two regular season meetings, simply were not able to do so as Drake was efficient offensively.
 
A defensive stop and a determined Orme score was a solid start to the second half for Belmont.
 
However, Larson had a hand in two responses for Drake to make the score 53-44 with 17:47 remaining.
 
Lundblade answered back with a mid-range jump shot before a driving layin and step back 3-pointer from Larson gave Drake a 58-46 lead with 16:15 left.
 
Though Drake had labored at times during the regular season defensively – Belmont scored 53, 51, and 52 points in its three previous halves vs. Drake – the Bulldogs used their strong guard play to manage the game and ensure defensive balance.
 
After four points from Jaehshon Thomas, consecutive 3-pointers from Noyes made the score 66-55 with 12:02 left.
 
The Bruins had several possessions where deflected passes or loose ball rebounds could have swung momentum. But seemingly each time, Drake regathered possession, often finding a teammate along the baseline for a basket.
 
Five Drake free throws and a Quinn layin during six straight empty Belmont possessions gave Drake a working margin.
 
Drake worked into the bonus, going 23-for-27 from the free throw line in the second half.
 
All told, Belmont shot 42 percent (27-for-65) from the field – including 14 3-point field goals.
 
Noyes led three Belmont players in double figures with a career-high 19 points. Orme had 18 points, while Lundblade had 11 points and five assists.
 
Scharnowski had a game-high eight rebounds.
 
Quinn led Drake with 31 points.
 
It is the first time Belmont has lost consecutive games all season.
 
Belmont (26-6) will learn of postseason play Sunday, March 15.
 
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, 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.
 
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