Heartbreak on the Court: Men’s Basketball Stumbles Against Bradley

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – – Belmont University’s men’s basketball team faced an 89-77 defeat against [rv/–] Bradley on Tuesday evening at the Curb Event Center.
 
In a fight for the top position in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, an intensely contested game unfolded, featuring nine ties and nine lead changes.
 
Despite a commendable effort from Carter Whitt – 15 points, seven rebounds, and a career-best 11 assists – a 14-5 surge by Bradley to begin the second half ultimately made the difference.
 
Belmont endured early 3-pointers from forward Darius Hannah and a banked 3 by MVC Preseason Player of the Year Duke Deen, taking a 14-12 advantage on an Isaiah Walker offensive rebound putback.
 
A Whitt 3-pointer and an Aidan Noyes tip-in increased Belmont’s lead to 23-17 before forward Brigham Rogers received his second personal foul.
 
Noyes contributed a timely 3-pointer before Bradley guard Connor Dillon – the older brother of Belmont freshman Eoin Dillon – scored twice consecutively.
 
Dillon’s second shot – a baseline 3-pointer as the shot clock expired – brought Bradley within 26-25 with 8:03 remaining.
 
Drew Scharnowski made significant contributions off the bench, as his seven first-half free throws aided Belmont’s scoring efforts.
 
Whitt collected his second personal foul with 3:53 remaining in the first half.
 
Brody Peebles stepped up with eight consecutive points in a span of 58 seconds to give Belmont a 39-37 advantage.
 
The score was equal at 43 at halftime.
 
Belmont achieved a shooting percentage of 36 percent (13-for-36) from the field in the first 20 minutes, including 6-for-19 from beyond the arc.
 
The Bruins garnered 22 bench points in the initial half while committing only three turnovers.
 
Bradley’s hustle plays to initiate the second half allowed them to gain the lead.
 
Four points from Ahmet Jonovic and a basket by Zek Montgomery established a 57-48 lead for Bradley with 14:55 left.
 
Sam Orme sunk two consecutive 3-pointers for Belmont, narrowing the score to 59-54.
 
Tyler Lundblade, Walker, Orme, and Peebles had chances for clean looks within the next two minutes, but the Bruins – who averaged a 45 percent success rate from 3-point range in their previous three matchups against Bradley – were unable to convert.
 
A 3-pointer from Jaquan Johnson extended Bradley’s lead to 64-54 with 11:30 remaining.
 
Scharnowski executed an impressive alley-oop slam from Whitt, trimming the deficit to eight, but scores from Johnson and Christian Davis kept the pressure on Belmont.
 
Whitt nearly single-handedly propelled Belmont in the final moments, contributing to 10 consecutive points, putting the Bruins within six or five points in the last two minutes.
 
However, a deflected pass led to a dunk by Hannah with 1:03 left, securing the victory for Bradley.
 
Bradley converted 22 of their 23 attempts from the free throw line.
 
In total, Belmont shot 38 percent (26-for-68) from the field – including only 11-for-37 from beyond the arc.
 
The Bruins accumulated 18 assists against just nine turnovers.
 
Whitt topped four Belmont players in double digits with 15 points, while Scharnowski and Jonathan Pierre each contributed 11. Walker added 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
Davis led Bradley (17-3, 8-1 MVC) with 19 points.
 
Belmont (14-6, 6-3 MVC) will return to action on Saturday at Murray State.
 
Tickets for Belmont are currently available at BelmontBruins.com/Tickets, alongside Puckett’s flex packs, single-game tickets, and group experiences. Fans may also call or text 615.460.BALL (2255).

For membership in the Bruin Club, please reach out to Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.

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Belmont University’s men’s basketball program has been a consistent presence in postseason play for the past two decades, securing nine NCAA Tournament appearances. The Bruins have claimed 20 conference championships since 2006 – the third most in the nation during that time (trailing only Gonzaga and Kansas). Belmont has achieved 20 or more wins in 14 consecutive seasons (with Gonzaga, Kansas, and Oregon) and 19 or more wins in 19 consecutive campaigns (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and San Diego State). Belmont is one of the few programs with two or more first-round picks in the NBA Draft over the last five years (Ben Sheppard, Dylan Windler). Belmont University men’s basketball takes pride in leading the NCAA with 19 Academic All-America selections since 2001, and it is the sole NCAA Division I program to achieve the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year since its inception. Belmont is the only NCAA Division I institution in the United States where both men’s and women’s basketball teams have achieved 20 or more wins in nine successive seasons.