Belmont Bruins vs Eastern Kentucky Colonels
| 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
EKU | 21 | 29 | 50 |
BEL | 30 | 30 | 60 |
Belmont advances to OVC title game with win over E. Kentucky
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Adam Kunkel scored 15 points and Grayson Murphy scored 10 and Belmont beat Eastern Kentucky 60-50 on Friday in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Friday night.
The Bruins play Murray State on Saturday for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Four Belmont starters scored early, and Michael Bankert's two free throws with 9:16 left before intermission gave the top-seeded Bruins a 20-9 lead. Russhard Cruickshank's three-point play brought the fourth-seeded Colonels with 22-16. Belmont went to the break up 30-21 and were never threatened in the second half.
Cruickshank scored 15 and Jomaru Brown 12.
Both teams struggled shooting as Belmont (25-7) made just 22 of 65 (33.8%) including 7 of 30 from 3-point range. The Colonels (16-17) finished 29.9% from the field (20 of 67), were 5 of 22 from beyond the arc and missed seven of 12 foul shot attempts.
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Game Information
Evansville, IN
Referee:Stephen Divine
Referee:Mick Fieldbinder
Referee:Brett Miles
2025-26 Standings
| ASUN Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay | 15-3 | - | 21-8 |
| Central Arkansas | 15-3 | - | 20-11 |
| Queens University | 13-5 | 2 | 18-13 |
| Lipscomb | 12-6 | 3 | 19-12 |
| West Georgia | 8-10 | 7 | 14-16 |
| Florida Gulf Coast | 8-10 | 7 | 14-17 |
| Bellarmine | 7-11 | 8 | 12-18 |
| Jacksonville | 7-11 | 8 | 12-19 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 7-11 | 8 | 11-20 |
| Stetson | 7-11 | 8 | 11-20 |
| North Florida | 5-13 | 10 | 7-24 |
| North Alabama | 4-14 | 11 | 9-20 |
| Missouri Valley Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 16-3 | - | 26-4 |
| Bradley | 13-7 | 3.5 | 20-11 |
| Murray State | 12-8 | 4.5 | 20-11 |
| UIC | 12-8 | 4.5 | 17-14 |
| Illinois State | 11-8 | 5 | 19-11 |
| Northern Iowa | 11-9 | 5.5 | 19-12 |
| Valparaiso | 11-9 | 5.5 | 17-14 |
| Southern Illinois | 10-10 | 6.5 | 16-15 |
| Drake | 6-14 | 10.5 | 12-19 |
| Indiana State | 4-16 | 12.5 | 11-20 |
| Evansville | 3-17 | 13.5 | 7-24 |
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