WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
@Illinois State 79,
Belmont 72
@Vanderbilt 83,
Southeast Missouri 65
ILLINOIS STATE 79, BELMONT 72
NORMAL, Ill. - Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 79-72 decision at Illinois State Wednesday night in its 2019-20 season opener.
After leading 31-23 at halftime, Belmont withstood an offensive display from the hosts in the second half; Illinois State seemingly unfazed by the new college basketball 3-point line went 13-for-26 from behind the arc, including 9-for-13 after halftime.
Sophomore Nick Muszynski scored inside to make the score 33-25 with 19:18 remaining - and produced a blocked shot on the Bruins' next defensive possession - before a banked wing 3-pointer from Jaycee Hillsman ushered a litany of perimeter shots from the Redbirds in the final 18 minutes.
A 3-pointer from Zach Copeland gave Illinois State a 64-62 lead with 6:14 left; the hosts first lead since midway through the first half.
Despite inspired play from Muszynski and fellow sophomores Grayson Murphy and Adam Kunkel, Belmont simply couldn't get over the hump. Following a loose ball scrum in the lane, Taylor Bruninga made a baseline 3-pointer with 2:10 left to give Illinois State a 71-66 lead.
Four points from graduate student Tyler Scanlon made it a one possession game in the final minute, but following a Copeland miss, Murphy was called for a personal foul battling for the rebound with Hillsman. His two free throws with 16 seconds remaining pushed the margin back to five points. An Abdou Ndiaye dunk at the buzzer provided the final margin.
All told, Belmont shot 47 percent (28-for-60) from the field, outscored Illinois State 40-24 in the paint and committed only 10 turnovers.
Muszynski led four Bruins in double figures with 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. Murphy added 17 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Kunkel scored a career-high 13 points.Junior Nick Hopkins added 12.
Copeland led Illinois State (1-0) with 20 points.
VANDERBILT 83, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 65
NASHVILLE (AP) - Vanderbilt ended a 20-game losing streak in Jerry Stackhouse's coaching debut, and Aaron Nesmith led the way with 25 points, including a career-high seven 3-pointers in an 83-65 win over Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday night.
Stackhouse inherited a 9-23 team that is coming off the worst season in school history, including a 0-18 record in the Southeastern Conference under former coach Bryce Drew.
Saben Lee added 21 points and Clevon Brown added 15 for the Commodores (1-0).
The game was tied at 44 early in the second half before the Commodores started to pull away.
The Stackhouse era got off to a rousing start with the Commodores seizing an 11-0 lead, including three straight 3-pointers to open the game. Southeast Missouri answered with a 16-2 run, sending the teams into halftime tied at 32.
Chris Harris led the Redhawks with 15 points as the junior guard hit 6 of 9 from the floor. Quatarrius Wilson had 12 points and 13 rebounds.