Next Game:
Union Commonwealth
11/18/2026 | 6:30 PM
Nov. 18 (Wed) / 6:30 PM
Union Commonwealth
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – – Behind inspired defense and a monster second-half run, Belmont University men’s basketball defeated defending Southern Conference champion Furman, 72-62, Saturday night from the Curb Event Center.
A 21-2 run over nine minutes midway through the second half turned a five-point Belmont deficit into a 60-46 lead with 5:08 remaining.
Belmont played a second consecutive game without all-conference forward Eoin Dillon, but was undeterred behind a total team effort defensively and on the backboards.
Furman, annually one of the top offensive teams in the country, entered the game averaging 95 points per game and had made 38 more free throws than Belmont had attempted coming in.
But determined scores from Vincent Neugebauer and Isaiah West established Belmont from the opening tip.
As Belmont held Furman without a field goal for nearly the first six minutes, a Jack Smiley pullup jump shot gave the Bruins a 9-0 lead.
Davis Molnar gave the visiting Paladins a lift off the bench, as his four free throws and a basket from Abijah Franklin got Furman within four.
West, Bez Jenkins, and Ethan Sage battled foul trouble in the first half, as Furman settled in by earning free throw opportunities.
After back-to-back driving baskets from Sage, seven quick points from Tom House and two free throws from Charles Johnston capped a 10-2 Furman run to give the visitors a 27-23 lead.
A Cooper Haynes 3-pointer a two Smiley free throws got Belmont within 33-30 at halftime.
Belmont limited Furman to 32 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes, and outrebounded the Paladins, 20-15.
Neugebauer led Belmont with eight first-half points.
The Bruins once again went inside to start the second half as three Neugebauer points and a driving Jenkins basket made the score 35-33 with 17:55 left.
Johnston would make consecutive 3-pointers to give Furman a 44-39 lead with 14:50 left.
The Paladins would miss two field goal attempts to increase the margin to eight points, before Johnston was whistled for a rebounding foul with 13:23 remaining.
As the sequence continued, the post player was also issued a class A technical foul – his fourth personal foul – truly changing the narrative for Furman.
From there, Belmont took its already stout defense to another level.
Smiley would cap a five-point possession with a wing 3-pointer before Neugebauer gave Belmont the lead on a hook shot.
Belmont’s physical and united defense limited Furman opportunities inside. And as the Paladins were forced to the perimeter, Belmont stacked defensive stops.
A Neugebauer alley oop from Aleksa Ristic and a Charlie Gersmehl basket off a second chance opportunity from Neugebauer made the score 50-46 with 9:44 left.
Eight more defensive stops coupled with a dazzling spinning layin from Jenkins, an Ethan Sage 3-pointer off a Jenkins assist, and a Smiley layin capped the monumental run and gave Belmont a 14-point lead with 5:08 remaining.
Behind the play of Cameron Elwer, Furman scored eight points in a 70-second span to close within 64-57 with 2:32 left.
Belmont went 6-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 2:20 to secure the outcome.
All told, Belmont outrebounded Furman 39-27, and outscored the visitors, 40-14 in points in the paint.
Neugebauer led three Bruins in double figures with a career-high 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two blocked shots.
Smiley had 15 points, six assists, four rebounds, three steals and only one turnover.
Jenkins had 10 points and three rebounds.
West added eight points, five rebounds, two blocked shots, and outstanding defense.
Elwer led Furman (4-1) with 13 points.
62 points is the fewest Furman has scored in a game since a 70-54 setback at Northern Iowa, exactly one year ago.
The game was delayed 14 minutes to make repairs to a net on one basket.
Belmont returns to game action Wednesday, Nov. 18 vs. Union Commonwealth.
Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Steve Layman can be heard on Belmont Bruins Radio. In-game updates will be available via Twitter @BelmontMBB.
Belmont season tickets – which include the entire men’s and women’s basketball home schedule – are on sale now at belmontbruins.com/tickets.
Belmont is proud to continue its Military Appreciation Ticket Program presented by Edley’s – whereby all active military and veterans – and up to four guests – receive FREE admission to all men’s and women’s basketball games at the Curb Event Center.
Fans and viewers are encouraged to log onto NewsChannel5.com/contests to nominate loved ones and inspirational figures in their lives for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Belmont Basketball and Win Steve’s Seats.
Contest winners will receive FREE VIP admission to a Belmont Basketball game, including black car transportation from Gray Line Tennessee, and a meet-and-greet with Voice of the Bruins and NewsChannel5 sports anchor Steve Layman.
To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.
Belmont University men’s basketball has been a postseason fixture for the last two decades, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 21 conference championships since 2006 – third-most nationally over that span (behind Gonzaga and Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 16 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga and Kansas) and 19 or more games in 21 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and San Diego State). Belmont is among select programs with two or more first-round selections in the NBA Draft over the last six years (Ben Sheppard, Dylan Windler). Belmont University men’s basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 20 Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of its existence. Belmont is the only NCAA Division I institution in America whose men’s and women’s basketball programs have won 20 or more games in 11 consecutive seasons.
How to Follow
Follow Belmont men’s basketball on social media – @BelmontMBB on X, formerly Twitter and @belmont_mbb on Instagram – for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont’s athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
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