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Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Belmont broke open an early 6-6 tie with a 20-0 run as the Bruins beat Eastern Illinois 90-56 on Monday evening in a rescheduled game from a Jan. 1 postponement.
 
EIU fell to 2-17 overall, 0-6 in the OVC.  Belmont improved t 15-5 overall, 5-2 in the OVC.
 
Kashawn Charles would score on a lay-up following a Belmont turnover with 15:26 left in the first half which knotted the score at 6-6.  EIU would not score again until the 8:41 mark of the first half on a CJ Lane jumper as Belmont had jumped out to 26-6 lead.
 
The Bruins had 3-pointers from four different players in the run as they hit nine 3-pointers in the opening half and 14 for the game.
 
EIU trailed 45-23 at the half shooting 40 percent in the opening half. The Panthers improved their shooting in the second half connecting for 44 percent.
 
Paul Bizimana posted his second 20 point performance in the last three games for EIU going 8-of-13 from the floor.  Charles added 17 including four 3-pointers.
 
Belmont had balanced scoring with five players in double figures.  Ben Sheppard led the Bruins with 15 points.
 
In the game Belmont's Grayson Murphy became the OVC's career leader in assists when he connected with Nick Muszynski early in the second half.  Murphy finished with five assists and now has 702 for his career.