Belmont defeats UIC 87-84
Belmont Stuns UIC with Dramatic Comeback in Conference Showdown
In a thrilling matchup that will be remembered for a long time, the Belmont Bruins (H) edged out the UIC Flames (A) 87-84 on Saturday night at the Curb Event Center Arena. The win marked a major upset, as Belmont overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to secure the victory.
The first half was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. Belmont's defense held strong, limiting UIC to just 43 points on 41 field goal attempts (57%). Meanwhile, the Bruins' offense was clicking, with Nic McClain leading the way with 17 points, including 2 three-pointers. At halftime, the score stood at 30-43 in favor of UIC.
However, Belmont's coaching staff made some crucial adjustments during the break, and the team responded with a vengeance in the second half. The Bruins' offense became more explosive, with McClain continuing to dominate, while Jabez Jenkins chipped in with six rebounds and five points. As the clock ticked down, Belmont slowly pulled away from UIC, taking a lead of just three points with under two minutes remaining.
In a thrilling conclusion, the Bruins held off a late surge by UIC, securing the win behind McClain's clutch shooting. The senior guard finished with 17 points, including 7 assists and 2 steals.
For UIC, Josiah Hammons led the way with 31 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Belmont's dramatic comeback. Jayce Nathaniel added seven rebounds and four points off the bench for the Flames.
The game was marked by two large leads - a 6-point deficit for Belmont and a 13-point lead for UIC in the first half. In between, however, came an incredible comeback that will be remembered for years to come.
In terms of team statistics, both Belmont and UIC shot well from beyond the arc, with the Bruins converting on 52% of their three-point attempts (13/25) and the Flames hitting on 41% (13/32). However, it was Belmont's ability to contain UIC's offense that ultimately proved decisive.
The Bruins' defense held UIC to just 54.6% eFG%, while also forcing 21 turnovers and grabbing 34.4% of the rebounding margin. For their part, UIC struggled with turnovers (12), free throw shooting (20%), and efficiency from outside the paint.
Belmont's True Shooting Percentage (72.9%) was a testament to its overall attacking prowess, as well as its ability to limit UIC to just 59.4%. The Bruins' win marked their second conference victory of the season, while UIC fell to 1-3 in league play.
The matchup between these two teams will be remembered for years to come, with Belmont's dramatic comeback serving as a defining moment in the game. As the Bruins look to build on this upset victory, they'll need to continue their defensive prowess and find ways to exploit UIC's struggles from beyond the arc if they hope to make a push for the conference championship.