Men's Basketball Faces Mercer in Home Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer (2-6, 0-1) | 30 | 37 | 67 |
| Belmont (5-1, 1-0) | 44 | 45 | 89 |
| Nashville, TN (Curb Event Center) | |||
| Mercer | Belmont |
|---|---|
| Pts: MOORE, Brandon - 22 | Pts: Mick Hedgepeth - 19 |
| Reb: MOORE, Brandon - 10 | Reb: Brandon Baker - 9 |
| Ast: 2 Players (#12, #21 - 6) | Ast: Drew Hanlen - 8 |
| Team Statistics | Mercer | Belmont |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 50.0% (24-48 ) | 48.4% (30-62 ) |
| Rebounds | 29 | 31 |
| Assists | 17 | 21 |
| Turnovers | 21 | 12 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 6 | 29 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 13 | 14 |
| Bench Pts | 12 | 37 |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont Basketball opens Atlantic Sun Conference play Thursday against Mercer in the regular season home opener.
The Bruins won their fourth consecutive game Nov. 29, winning at Tennessee State, 87-72. Junior Mick Hedgepeth paced four Bruins in double figures with 15 points. Belmont shot 51 percent from the field and outrebounded the Tigers by nine in the victory.
Freshman J.J. Mann has made a significant impact in his first season with the Bruins. The 6-6 swingman has registered new career-highs in scoring in three straight games, including his 13-point effort Nov. 29 at Tennessee State. The Smyrna, Ga. native spent last year at Hargrave Military Academy.
Belmont head coach Rick Byrd has utilized his deep and experienced bench during the early part of the season, and it has reaped huge dividends. The Bruins have 10 players averaging double figure minutes, with no single player averaging more than 23 minutes per game.
The Bruins hold a 16-5 series edge over Mercer, including a 77-73 victory Feb. 25 at the Curb Event Center.
