Belmont's strong season continued as they traveled to the Banterra Center and came away with a 73-68 victory over Southern Illinois. The Bruins, now 18-3, were led by Eoin Dillon's 18 points, while Jack Smiley and Jabez Jenkins added 14 and 13 points, respectively. This balanced attack allowed Belmont to build a lead and hold off a late Southern Illinois surge.
The first half saw Belmont take control, scoring 32 points to Southern Illinois' 24. The Bruins' offense was clicking, with multiple players contributing to the scoring effort. Southern Illinois, however, refused to back down, with Drew Steffe leading the charge. Steffe finished the game with 24 points, and his teammate Jalen Haynes added 22 points, keeping the Salukis within striking distance.
In the second half, Southern Illinois made a push to get back in the game, outscoring Belmont 44-41. Despite this, the Bruins' first-half lead was too much to overcome. Rolyns Aligbe chipped in with 9 points and 8 rebounds for the Salukis, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.
The win for Belmont was a reflection of their depth and ability to score from multiple positions. Eoin Dillon's 18 points were a key factor, but the contributions from Smiley and Jenkins were just as important. On the other side, Southern Illinois' Drew Steffe and Jalen Haynes showed why they are two of the top players for the Salukis, but ultimately, it wasn't enough to secure the win.
This game had implications for both teams' tournament resumes. For Southern Illinois, the loss drops them to 8-12, but the fact that they were able to hang with a strong Belmont team will be a positive note. This game was classified as a Quadrant 2 game for the Salukis, a respectable outing against a top-100 opponent. For Belmont, the win improves their already impressive record and adds another Quadrant 3 win to their resume. As the Bruins continue to pile up wins, they are making a strong case for a high seed in the tournament.
The outcome of this game was not unexpected, given the relative strengths of the two teams. Without a pre-game prediction to compare to, it's clear that Belmont's performance was in line with their season-long dominance. As the season wears on, Belmont want to continue their winning ways and solidify their position as one of the top teams in the country. The loss for Southern Illinois, while not ideal, will serve as a learning experience and a chance to build on their performance against a strong opponent. With this result, Belmont's tournament chances continue to look strong, while Southern Illinois must regroup and focus on their remaining schedule to try and bolster their own resume.