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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Belmont shot 53 percent from the field and connected on 14 3-pointers to cruise past Eastern Illinois men’s basketball, 95-62, Saturday evening at Lantz Arena.
The Bruins (3-2) blew the game open early with a 20-3 run. Belmont connected on four 3-pointers during the surge.
The 95 points were the most EIU (3-2) had surrendered since a 98-71 loss at Austin Peay in February 2007. At home, the Panthers had not given up 90-plus points in a 40-minute game since 1996.
Tyler Laser scored 21 points. He was the only EIU player to connect on a 3-pointer or score in double-figures. However, 11 of the 12 Panthers that saw action managed to score.
Belmont had four players score in double-figures, led by Mick Hedgepeth with 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field. Keaton Belcher scored all of his 15 points from 3-point land. He was one of five Bruins to connect on a 3-pointer.
Along with shooting a high percentage, Belmont also enjoyed a 41-29 rebounding advantage and committed only eight turnovers.
After the Bruins had gone up 29-10 with nine minutes remaining before halftime, Eastern finally responded with back-to-back baskets. But the Panthers had only one field goal in the final seven minutes of the first half. Belmont outscored EIU 18-7 during that stretch.
As game one of an in-season home-and-home series, the Panthers and Bruins will meet again Dec. 19 in Nashville. But first EIU visits the Music City Thursday for its Ohio Valley Conference opener at Tennessee State. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.