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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
NASHVILLE – Belmont shot 59 percent to open the game hitting their first six shots from the floor as they beat Eastern Illinois 97-64 in the second round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament played Thursday night at Nashville Municipal Auditorium.
EIU falls to 17-14. Belmont improved to 20-10 and will play No. 2 seed Eastern Kentucky in the OVC semifinals on Friday night.
Belmont opened the game making its first six shots as the Bruins jumped out to a 15-0 run hitting three 3-pointers with Craig Bradshaw scoring five early points.
EIU scored its first points on a bucket by
Luke Piotrowski with 15:56 to play to end the 15-0 Belmont run. The Bruins answered with four straight free throws before EIU could find any offensive rhythm.
EIU cut the lead to 32-19 on a quick 5-0 spurt with a 3-pointer by
Reggie Smith and a lay-up by
Josh Piper. Smith had three first half 3-pointers and finished the game with 17 points.
Belmont answered with a barrage of 3-pointers as the Bruins led 47-24 at the half. Belmont was 9-of-15 from 3-point range in the first half after going just 7-of-43 from 3-point range during the loss to EIU in Charleston in early January. Belmont finished the game 16-of-26 from 3-point range.
Cornell Johnston ended the half and a 13-0 Belmont run with a lay-up with 20 seconds to play. Johnston the OVC Freshman of the Year scored 11 points after scoring 22 in the opening round win over SIU Edwardsville.
Belmont continued its hot shooting in the second half extending the lead to 28 points on an Evan Bradds lay-up with 18:09 to play as Belmont led 52-24. EIU was able to cut the lead under 20 points on a Smith 3-pointer with 13:07 to play.
Belmont answered with another 13-0 run with Amanze Egekeze and Nick Smith both sinking 3-pointers. Egekeze and Smith were two of five Belmont players to score in double figures. Egekeze had 12 and Smith added 14.
Trae Anderson had 13 points for EIU.
Bradshaw and Bradds rounded out the double figure scorers for Belmont. Bradshaw led all players with 23 and Bradds finished with 14. Mack Mercer was the final Belmont player in double figures with 10 points.