Belmont Bruins @ Eastern Illinois Panthers
Eastern Illinois beats Belmont 84-73
CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Chris Olivier scored 16 points off the bench to lead five players in double digits as Eastern Illinois beat Belmont 84-73 on Saturday.
Reggie Smith added 15 points for the Panthers (10-6, 4-0 Ohio Valley Conference). Trae Anderson and LeTrell Viser had 13 points apiece and Luke Norman chipped in 10.
Smith hit two jumpers, two layups and a free throw in the final three minutes of the first period, helping to take the Panthers from a six-point lead to a 39-26 advantage at the break.
Belmont trailed by double digits through most of the second half, closing to within seven points, 80-73, on an Evan Bradds dunk with a minute remaining. The Panthers sealed it with Smith, Cornell Johnston and Josh Piper going 6 of 6 from the line to finish.
Bradds had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Bruins (10-6, 2-1).
Game Information
Charleston, IL
Referee:Jason Baker
Referee:John St. Clair
Referee:Chris Hudson
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 |
| Ohio Valley ConferenceOhio Valley Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State | 15-5 | - | 23-10 |
| Morehead State | 15-5 | - | 20-13 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 14-6 | 1 | 20-13 |
| UT Martin | 13-7 | 2 | 22-11 |
| SIU Edwardsville | 12-8 | 3 | 19-13 |
| Lindenwood | 11-9 | 4 | 18-15 |
| Little Rock | 9-11 | 6 | 12-20 |
| Tennessee Tech | 8-12 | 7 | 13-18 |
| Eastern Illinois | 8-12 | 7 | 13-20 |
| Southern Indiana | 4-16 | 11 | 7-23 |
| Western Illinois | 1-19 | 14 | 5-26 |
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