Belmont Bruins @ Tennessee State Tigers
| 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
BEL | 38 | 34 | 72 |
TNST | 39 | 48 | 87 |
Tennessee State beats champ Belmont 87-72
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Keron DeShields scored 25 points and Tennessee State beat Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champion Belmont 87-72 on Sunday for the Tigers' 20th victory.
The fourth-seeded Tigers (20-9, 11-5) earned a first-round bye for the Ohio Valley Conference tournament that begins Wednesday. Tennessee State will play the winner between Tennessee Tech and No. 8 Austin Peay, with the second-round victor playing the top-seeded Bruins (20-10, 12-4).
Tahjere McCall added 16 points, Wayne Martin 13 and Demontez Loman 10 for Tennessee State.
Austin Luke made four 3-pointers and scored 18 points for Belmont. Taylor Barnette added 14 and Nick Smith 12.
The Tigers took the lead for good on a DeShields' jumper with 16:16 left. A 14-3 run, with seven points from McCall, left them ahead 76-63 with three minutes remaining with the lead dipping to nine only once after that.
Game Information
Nashville, TN
Referee:Scott Johnson
Referee:Ford Branch Jr
Referee:Kelly Davis
2025-26 Standings
| Missouri 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 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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