Belmont tops Middle Tennessee 69-63 behind Egekeze
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Amanze Egekeze scored 24 points with six 3-pointers, Dylan Windler had a double-double, and Belmont beat Middle Tennessee 69-63 on Thursday night.
Mack Mercer's layup sparked a 12-2 run and Belmont led 50-36 early in the second half. Giddy Potts made a layup and 3-pointer amid an 11-0 run and the Blue Raiders retook the lead 56-52. After two more ties, Kevin McClain's two free throws sparked a 7-0 run and Middle Tennessee got no closer than four the rest of the way.
McClain scored 14 points and Windler had 11 with 10 rebounds for Belmont (2-1), which made 10 of 22 3-pointers and shot 45.3 percent from the floor.
Egekeze capped Belmont's opening 10-0 run with a 3-pointer, but the Blue Raiders rallied to a 16-5 lead on Potts' 3. The lead traded hands six more times before Austin Luke's layup with 37 seconds left in the first half and Belmont led 29-27 at halftime.
Nick King led the Blue Raiders (2-1) with 21 points and Potts had 11.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Tim Gattis
- Craig Murley
- Ray Natili
2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley | 8-1 | - | 17-3 |
| Drake | 7-2 | 1 | 17-2 |
| Belmont | 6-3 | 2 | 14-6 |
| UIC | 6-3 | 2 | 13-6 |
| Northern Iowa | 6-3 | 2 | 12-8 |
| Murray State | 5-4 | 3 | 11-9 |
| Illinois State | 4-5 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Valparaiso | 3-6 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Indiana State | 3-6 | 5 | 9-11 |
| Southern Illinois | 3-6 | 5 | 8-12 |
| Evansville | 3-6 | 5 | 6-14 |
| Missouri State | 0-9 | 8 | 7-13 |
2024-25 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTEP | 4-1 | - | 14-4 |
| Middle Tennessee | 4-1 | - | 13-5 |
| New Mexico State | 4-1 | - | 11-7 |
| Kennesaw State | 3-2 | 1 | 11-7 |
| Jacksonville State | 3-2 | 1 | 11-7 |
| Liberty | 3-3 | 1.5 | 15-4 |
| Western Kentucky | 2-3 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2-4 | 2.5 | 13-6 |
| Sam Houston | 1-5 | 3.5 | 8-11 |
| Florida International | 1-5 | 3.5 | 7-12 |
Men's College Basketball News
