TUESDAY'S SCORES
Evansville 65,
@Belmont 62
@UC Davis 80,
Eastern Illinois 70
EVANSVILLE 65, BELMONT 62
NASHVILLE - Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 65-62 decision to Evansville Tuesday night.
While Belmont got off to fast starts in each of its last four games, the Bruins started slowly on this evening. Five points from D.J. Balentine gave Evansville a 10-3 lead 2:36 into the game. But two three-pointers from freshman Amanze Egekeze got Belmont within 15-13 at the 12:17 mark. A three-pointer from sophomore Taylor Barnette and two free throws from sophomore Nick Smith propelled the Bruins to an 18-17 lead midway through the half.
A second personal foul on Evansville center Egidijus Mockevicius enabled Belmont to continue to attack from all angles. Likewise, Barnette would be limited due to fouls. A three-pointer from Smith and a bank shot from senior Spencer Turner stretched the lead to 25-20 with 7:36 left in the half. The Bruins led 37-29 at halftime.
Belmont shot 43 percent (12-for-28) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 7-for-14 from three-point distance. The Bruins forced 10 first half turnovers against a Purple Aces squad that averages only 11 turnovers per game.
But a disjointed start to the second half allowed the visitors to gain their bearings. A turnover and a Mockevicius layin prompted a timeout from Belmont head coach Rick Byrd just 23 seconds into the second half. After a layin from sophomore Evan Bradds momentarily got Belmont back on track, but consecutive Evansville scores prompted a second Coach Rick Byrd timeout less than two minutes into the second half.
The veteran coach implored his team to focus and lock in on both ends, and the Bruins responded. A Barnette layin and a Turner three-pointer gave Belmont a 44-40 lead with 16:05 remaining. But Balentine would cap an 8-0 Evansville run with a driving layin to give the Purple Aces a 48-44 edge with 12:15 left.
A Turner layin got Belmont within two, 50-48, and after a defensive stop, the Bruins looked poised to tie the score as freshman Austin Luke found Smith in stride in transition. But Smith's dunk attempt rimmed off.
Evansville would answer with one Mockevicius free throw and a Balentine short jumper. Smith would bounce back, burying consecutive three-pointers to get Belmont within 56-54 with 3:12 left. Mockevicius answered with a post layin on the next Evansville possession to push the margin back to four. After Chamberlain missed a driving layin attempt, Belmont would be whistled for a technical foul with 2:18 remaining. Balentine would sink two free throws to make the score 60-54.
After an Egekeze basket and one Evansville free throw, Turner missed a deep three-pointer with 55 seconds left. Then following an Evansville mishandle, Chamberlain would be fouled flagrantly by Mislav Brzoja in the open court with 42 seconds left. With Chamberlain unable to shoot, sophomore Caleb Chowbay made one free throw to get Belmont within six points. Bradds would then add a driving layin to make the score 63-59.
Two more Evansville free throws and a Chowbay three-pointer provided the final margin.
All told, Belmont shot 37 percent (22-for-60) from the field - including 11-for-31 from three-point distance. The Bruins outrebounded Evansville, 34-33, and forced 17 turnovers. Egekeze and Bradds led four Bruins in double figures with 13 points each. Smith scored 11, while Turner added 10. Chamberlain had a career-high 14 rebounds and eight assists.
Balentine, who entered on a 20 point average, scored 25 to lead Evansville (7-1).
UC DAVIS 80, EASTERN ILLINOIS 70
DAVIS, Calif. - Eastern Illinois had four players score in double figures but the Panthers could not overcome a hot shooting night by UC Davis as the host Aggies won 80-70 on Tuesday night.
EIU fell to 3-6 on the season and will host Northern Illinois on Saturday at 7 p.m. UC Davis swept the two games against EIU this season improving to 7-1 on the year.
Trae Anderson was big for the Panthers in the first half as the Panthers trailed 36-32 at the half. Anderson was hit with foul trouble early in the second half as UC Davis opened the half with a 5-0 run to lead 41-32. Anderson would finish with 12 points hitting 5-of-9 from the floor.
A 3-pointer by LeTrell Viser cut the UCD lead to two points with 13:16 to play at 48-46. The Aggies responded with a 3-pointer by Corey Hawkins as he led all players with 19 points. Hawkins bucket at 11:40 pushed the UC Davis lead back to seven points.
Chris Olivier brought the Panthers to within four points at 59-55 with 8:48 to play. The two schools traded baskets on the next two possessions and following good defensive stands by EIU, the Panthers missed two shots to cut it to a single possession game.
UD Davis extended the lead to nine points on free throws by Hawkins with 5:22 to play. Dylan Chatman answered for EIU to cut it back to six with a 3-pointer at 5:01 as Chatman had 11 points.
The Aggies scored their final seven points at the free throw line as they made 15-of-17 at the line in the second half. UC Davis shot 58 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range.
Olivier posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Reggie Smith had 16 points while Cornell Johnston passed out eight assists.
J.T. Adenrele added 17 points for UC Davis while Josh Ritchart had 11.