Belmont Downs EIU, 75-66

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Published on January 15 2018 2:38 pm
Last Updated on January 15 2018 2:38 pm
Written by Millie Lange

Belmont took control of the basketball game in the final nine minutes as the Bruins picked up a 75-66 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Lantz Arena.

Belmont improved to 13-6 overall, 5-1 in the OVC.  EIU fell to 6-11 overall, 2-4 in the OVC.  EIU returns to action on Thursday hosting UT Martin at 7:30 p.m.

 Belmont held the lead for nearly the entire game as they scored the first basket of the game on a Dylan Windler lay-up.  EIU answered to tie the game on  Jajuan Starks lay-up with 17:25 to play in the first.  Starks then tied the game up again at 4-4 at 16:05 to play as Starks had 13 points for EIU.

 Amanze Egekeze sank a 3-pointer at the 14:44 mark and Belmont would lead for the remainder of the game.  The Bruins built the lead to ten points at the 8:22 mark of the first half on a 3-pointer by Kevin McClain.  Belmont would hit 13 3-pointers on the afternoon finishing at 52 percent from beyond the arc while shooting 51 percent from the floor.

 EIU would trim the lead back to three points before halftime on a Starks 3-pointer only to see Austin Luke sink back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Bruins lead back at nine points.  Montell Goodwin hit a runner for EIU as Belmont led 36-29 at the half.

 After watching the Bruins again push the lead to double figures early in the second half, EIU worked back into the game cutting the Bruins lead to two points at 52-50 on a Muusa Dama lay-up with 9:04 to play.

 Belmont went on a 9-2 run after the Dama basket to go back up by 11 points on a bucket by Egekeze.  Egekeze was one of three Belmont players in double figures with 11 points.

 Windler had 25 points to lead Belmont while McClain added 20 points.  Luke had 12 assists and nine points.

 Goodwin scored 26 points to lead EIU.