Belmont Bruins @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
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
Murfreesboro, TN
Referee:Tim Gattis
Referee:Craig Murley
Referee:Ray Natili
2025-26 Standings
| Missouri Valley ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 16-4 | - | 26-6 |
| Bradley | 13-7 | 3 | 21-13 |
| Illinois State | 12-8 | 4 | 23-13 |
| Murray State | 12-8 | 4 | 20-13 |
| UIC | 12-8 | 4 | 19-16 |
| Northern Iowa | 11-9 | 5 | 23-13 |
| Valparaiso | 11-9 | 5 | 18-15 |
| Southern Illinois | 10-10 | 6 | 16-16 |
| Drake | 6-14 | 10 | 14-20 |
| Indiana State | 4-16 | 12 | 11-21 |
| Evansville | 3-17 | 13 | 7-25 |
| Conference USAConference USA | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 17-3 | - | 26-8 |
| Sam Houston | 13-7 | 4 | 22-12 |
| Louisiana Tech | 11-9 | 6 | 20-14 |
| Western Kentucky | 11-9 | 6 | 18-14 |
| Middle Tennessee | 11-9 | 6 | 17-15 |
| Kennesaw State | 10-10 | 7 | 21-14 |
| Jacksonville State | 10-10 | 7 | 15-17 |
| New Mexico State | 8-12 | 9 | 16-16 |
| Missouri State | 8-12 | 9 | 16-18 |
| Florida International | 8-12 | 9 | 15-17 |
| UTEP | 7-13 | 10 | 11-20 |
| Delaware | 6-14 | 11 | 10-21 |
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