In a display of resilience amid harsh winter weather, the Belmont Bruins secured an 80-69 victory over Illinois State in front of over 700 fans who braved the elements for a thrilling Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) matchup. This win elevates Belmont’s MVC record to 8-2, tying them at the top of the conference with Murray State.
Coach Casey Alexander highlighted the significance of the victory, emphasizing the competitiveness of both teams. “This win says a lot about our team and our competitiveness. I think both teams are really good. If we started over, it might go the other way,” he remarked.
Originally scheduled for Sunday, the game was moved to Saturday due to inclement weather. This adjustment also led to the postponement of the women’s basketball game from Saturday to Monday night. Acknowledging the challenges of rescheduling, Alexander expressed gratitude towards all who made the match possible, including Illinois State, which arrived a day early, as well as various Belmont employees.
Despite contending with snow and sleet, the Bruins quickly asserted dominance, launching an early 10-0 run and heading into halftime with a 44-36 advantage. Their first-half performance featured an impressive 58% shooting percentage and successful three-pointers on their initial five attempts. However, Illinois State posed a formidable challenge, fueled by the talent of junior Chase Walker, recognized as the MVC Player of the Week.
The second half saw Illinois State counterattack, initially taking the lead with a 15-4 run. Nonetheless, Belmont was unfazed. A layup from junior Brigham Rogers initiated a decisive 14-2 run, regaining the momentum for the Bruins. This run was highlighted by a spectacular dunk from redshirt sophomore Drew Scharnowski and consecutive three-pointers from redshirt freshman Eoin Dillon, who led all scorers with 16 points.
Dillon’s performance proved critical as he scored 11 points in the first eight minutes of the second half, demonstrating his composure under pressure. “He’s pretty clutch for a freshman… he has delivered many times,” Alexander noted.
Ultimately, Belmont maintained control of the game, achieving their 11-point victory while benefiting from a well-rounded offensive effort. Three players scored in double figures, and the bench contributed significantly, outscoring Illinois State’s bench 31-12. The Bruins also did an admirable job limiting Walker to just 12 points, effectively disrupting his offensive flow.
Junior Isaiah West had a standout performance, scoring eight points on nearly perfect shooting and surpassing his previous career-high in assists with eight. Belmont’s effective shooting—over 50% from both the field and beyond the arc—marked their fifth instance this season achieving such accuracy, with 56% from three-point range hitting a new season-high.
Looking ahead, the Bruins are set to travel to face the Valparaiso Beacons once again before a significant showdown against Murray State next Saturday, a match that will likely determine the conference’s top seed. The prospect of continuing their strong performance bodes well for Belmont as they head into these crucial games.