THURSDAY'S SCORES
@Belmont 64, Middle Tennessee 49
BELMONT 64, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 49
NASHVILLE - Behind spirited defense and its experienced backcourt, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Middle Tennessee, 64-49, Thursday night.
In a game featuring two of the top non-BCS programs, both teams showcased trademark defensive intensity and teamwork early.
Fiercely contested first half, with neither team leading by more than four points.
Middle Tennessee led 24-22 late in the first half before Belmont ended the half on an 8-2 run, highlighted by J.J. Mann's buzzer-beating three-pointer. The Bruins led 30-26 at halftime.
Belmont carried the momentum into the second half, as junior Blake Jenkins punctuated a 10-1 run to open the second half with a monster slam dunk, giving the Bruins a 40-27 lead with 16:29 left.
A Brandon Baker layin and a short Kerron Johnson jumper stretched the margin to 46-29 with 13:36 to go, as Belmont limited Middle Tennessee to three points the first six and a half minutes of the second half.
The Blue Raiders got as close as 11 points three times, but no closer.
Middle Tennessee had defeated UAB and Ole Miss entering the game.
Belmont shot 50 percent from the field for the game, while limiting Middle Tennessee to 29 percent shooting and 3-for-16 from three-point distance.