The Belmont Bruins established control early, taking a 44-29 lead into halftime against the Evansville Purple Aces. This 15-point gap would only widen as the game progressed, ultimately resulting in a decisive 98-64 victory for Belmont. The 34-point margin of victory underscores the significant disparity between the two teams, with Belmont's superiority evident from the outset.
As the second half unfolded, Belmont continued to assert its dominance, outscoring Evansville 54-35 to seal the convincing win. The difference in quality between the two teams, reflected in their respective NET rankings of 54 for Belmont and 303 for Evansville, was on full display. The Bruins' ability to maintain and expand their lead throughout the game demonstrates a notable gap in performance between the two programs.
A 29-point effort was not to be found, but the next best performance came from Tyler Lundblade, with his 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists. His 5-10 shooting from the field, including 5-9 from three-point range, helped set the pace for Belmont. The team's strong outside shooting was also fueled by Sam Orme, whose perfect 5-5 shooting from the field, including 4-4 from three-point range, resulted in 14 points.
The freshman standout was not the leading scorer, but Eoin Dillon's 12 points and 4 rebounds were a notable contribution. With 4-7 shooting from the field, all of his attempts coming from three-point range, Dillon's 4-7 three-point shooting helped Belmont maintain a comfortable lead. Erupting for a combined 41 points, the trio of Lundblade, Orme, and Dillon played a significant role in Belmont's 98-64 victory over Evansville.
Finishing with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, AJ Casey's overall performance was a notable bright spot for Evansville, though it ultimately fell short of being enough to change the game's outcome. His 10-16 shooting from the field was efficient, but the team's inability to contain Belmont's offense rendered his efforts insufficient. The team's leading scorer, with a line of 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, Casey's contributions were admirable, yet not quite enough to keep pace with Belmont's high-powered attack.
Despite the loss, the supporting cast around Casey struggled to find their footing, with Leif Moeller and Alex Hemenway being held in check by Belmont's defense. Moeller's 11 points and 3 rebounds were a far cry from what Evansville needed to stay competitive, as his 3-10 shooting from the field was a testament to Belmont's stifling defensive effort. His 5-7 mark from the free throw line was a rare positive, but it was not enough to offset his overall struggles. With 10 points and 5 rebounds, Hemenway's line was respectable, but his 2-9 shooting from beyond the arc was a microcosm of Evansville's larger struggles to find consistency on offense.
Beyond the standout performances, the remaining players on both teams largely adhered to their established season trends.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The pre-game prediction of a Belmont victory by 26.1 points was ultimately proven correct, with the Bruins emerging victorious by an even wider margin of 34 points. While the prediction was broadly accurate, the actual result exceeded expectations, suggesting that Belmont's performance was even more dominant than anticipated. This outcome underscores the challenges of forecasting the precise margin of victory, even when the likely winner is clear.
A closer examination of the team statistics reveals that Belmont's exceptional shooting and Evansville's struggles from beyond the arc were key factors in deciding the outcome. Belmont's eFG% of 74.6% and 3PT% of 56.8% indicate a highly efficient and effective offense, which allowed the Bruins to pull away from their opponents. In contrast, Evansville's 3PT% of 23.1% was well below their season average, limiting their ability to keep pace with Belmont's scoring. These disparities in shooting performance ultimately contributed to the significant margin of victory, as Belmont's offense was able to capitalize on their opportunities while Evansville struggled to find rhythm on the perimeter.
The outcome of this game has significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations. For Belmont, the win keeps them on the periphery of the NCAA Tournament bubble, with their NET ranking of 54 still leaving them in contention for an at-large bid. Although this was a Quad 4 game, the victory does little to bolster their resume, but it does prevent a damaging loss that could have dropped them further down the rankings. In contrast, Evansville's loss does little to alter their postseason trajectory, as their only viable path to the tournament remains winning the MVC conference tournament auto-bid. As the Bruins continue to hover around the bubble, their ability to secure quality wins in their remaining games will be crucial in determining their tournament fate. With a lackluster performance against a subpar opponent, Belmont's margin for error has grown thinner, and they can ill afford another misstep if they hope to hear their name called on Selection Sunday.