Box Score (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team went on the road and gave first-place Belmont all it could handle in a 76-72 loss to the Bruins on Thursday night at the Curb Event Center.
 
The duo of sophomore Nick Mayo and freshman Asante Gist combined to score 53 of the Colonels' 72 points. Mayo posted 25 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Gist dropped a career-high 28 points, while dishing out two assists and coming up with two steals.
 
Belmont (19-5, 13-1 OVC) led by nine, 69-60, with 2:39 to play; however, EKU (10-18, 3-10 OVC) rattled off eight straight points over the next minute and 15 seconds and pulled to within one, 69-68, when Gist calmly sank three free throws with 1:24 showing.
 
On the Bruins' ensuing possession, though, senior Evan Bradds completed a three-point play to push Belmont's lead back out to four.
 
Eastern fought to the finish, as a pair of foul shots from junior Zach Charles made it a two-point game, 74-72, with 12 seconds on the clock. Belmont, however, made both of its ensuing free throw attempts and Gist missed a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer.
 
Charles chipped in eight points and a team-best 10 rebounds for the Colonels, while senior Isaac McGlone finished with eight points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
EKU stifled Belmont to just 2-of-14 shooting from behind the arc (14 percent) to nearly pull off the upset.
 
The Colonels led for most of the first half and took their largest lead, 19-11, when junior Dillon Avare buried a triple with 13:51 on the clock.
 
Belmont fought back and grabbed a five-point advantage, 31-26, when Kevin McClain converted a layup at the 4:10 mark of the first half. Eastern responded with an 8-0 run, capped off by a Mayo jumper that made it 34-31 in favor of the Colonels.
 
EKU went into the locker room at the break up by one, 39-38.
 
Belmont took the lead in the second half when Amanze Egekeze made a layup with 17:39 showing, and the Colonels trailed the rest of the way.
 
Bradds paced Belmont with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Dylan Windler contributed 23 points.
 
The Colonels will stay in Nashville to play at Tennessee State on Saturday night. Tip-off from the Gentry Center is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.