NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Belmont used a balanced offensive attack and strong interior play to defeat Indiana State 87-70 in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Curb Events Center. The Bruins built a 39-25 halftime lead and maintained control throughout, scoring 50 points in the paint. Jack Smiley led Belmont with 18 points. Ian Scott scored 16 for the Sycamores, who lost despite a 45-point second half. Belmont improved to 25-4 overall. Indiana State fell to 10-19. An announced crowd of 3,644 watched the Bruins outshoot the Sycamores 50.8% to 43.5% from the field and force 13 turnovers.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Belmont Bruins, showcasing the efficiency and depth that has defined their standout season, methodically dispatched the visiting Indiana State Sycamores 87-70 in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Curb Events Center. In a rematch of a thrilling overtime contest won by Indiana State just under two months prior, Belmont left little to chance this time. The Bruins leveraged a dominant interior presence and a disruptive defense to build a double-digit halftime lead and steadily pulled away after the break before a crowd of 3,644. The most critical phase of the game was a decisive first-half run that established a template Belmont would follow all night. After a slow start from both teams, the Bruins broke open a tight contest with a 14-2 surge over a five-minute span late in the opening period. The run transformed a 19-17 Belmont edge into a commanding 33-19 advantage, fueled by the Bruins’ ability to capitalize on Sycamores’ mistakes and control the paint. Jack Smiley, a guard from Valparaiso, Indiana, ignited the sequence with a pull-up jumper. Forward Brigham Rogers of Woodstock, Georgia, then scored on consecutive layups, both assisted by Smiley and Eoin Dillon. After an Indiana State turnover, Smiley struck again with another jumper. The Sycamores, struggling against Belmont’s defensive pressure, committed five turnovers during the pivotal stretch, which the Bruins converted into seven points. When Tyler Lundblade of Dallas sank a three-pointer off an Isaiah West assist with 2:38 left in the half, the Bruins’ lead ballooned to 14 points. Belmont entered halftime leading 39-25, having outscored Indiana State 20-8 over the final 10 minutes of the period. The second half offered no respite for the Sycamores. Belmont opened with a 9-2 burst, capped by a Drew Scharnowski alley-oop dunk from West, to extend the lead to 48-27 just over two minutes in. Indiana State never got closer than 13 points the rest of the way as the Bruins consistently answered any modest Sycamores push with scores in the paint or at the free-throw line. Belmont’s offensive execution was clinical. The Bruins scored 87 points on 75 possessions, an offensive rating of 115.8, and shot 50.8% from the field. Their most devastating work came inside, where they outscored Indiana State 50-36 in the paint. They also converted 13 of 15 free throw attempts and scored 17 points off 13 Sycamores turnovers. Defensively, Belmont was equally effective, forcing those 13 turnovers and recording 11 steals. The Bruins’ activity limited Indiana State to 43.5% shooting overall and just 30% from three-point range. The Sycamores managed an offensive rating of only 94.9. Smiley led all scorers with 18 points in just 17 minutes off the bench, perfectly embodying Belmont’s depth. Scharnowski, a forward from Burlington, Illinois, added 14 points, four assists and two steals. Lundblade finished with 11 points, while Rogers contributed 11 points and Sam Orme of Carmel, Indiana, chipped in nine points and two assists. For Indiana State, which fell to 10-19 overall and 2-14 in the conference, forward Ian Scott of Plainfield, Indiana, provided a bright spot with 16 points, two assists and two blocks in 35 minutes. Guard Camp Wagner of Dallas scored 14 points, and Sterling Young of Queens, New York, also had 14. Guard Bruno Alocen of Barcelona, Spain, dished out a game-high seven assists. The victory improved Belmont’s record to 25-4 overall and 14-2 in the Missouri Valley, solidifying its position atop the conference standings. The Bruins have now won 10 of their last 11 games. Indiana State, meanwhile, has lost five straight and 10 of its last 11. The game’s statistical profile and decisive turning point underscored the season-long trends for both teams. Belmont, a model of consistency and offensive potency, used a balanced attack and stingy defense to overwhelm an Indiana State squad that has repeatedly struggled to find traction in close games throughout the campaign. The Bruins’ first-half knockout punch ensured there would be no repeat of December’s dramatic finish, as they cruised to a comfortable victory that reflected their status as one of the conference’s elite teams.

Belmont Aims to Continue Dominant Season Against Struggling Indiana State NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Saturday when the surging Belmont Bruins host the reeling Indiana State Sycamores in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball matchup at Curb Events Center. The Bruins (24-4 overall) enter as one of the conference’s elite, having won 10 of their last 11 games. Their potent offense, which has eclipsed 100 points twice in the last month, is averaging 86.2 points per game during that stretch. Belmont is coming off an 87-70 road victory at Murray State on Feb. 15, where guard Jack Smiley scored 21 points in just 22 minutes. Smiley, a player to watch, has been a consistent scoring threat, including an 18-point, 6-assist performance in a win over Drake on Feb. 3. Conversely, Indiana State (10-18) has lost seven of its last eight games, including a 60-81 home defeat to Northern Iowa on Wednesday. The Sycamores’ season has been defined by narrow losses, with five of their last eight defeats coming by six points or fewer, including two in overtime. Guard Ian Scott has been a bright spot for Indiana State, scoring in double figures in seven of the last eight contests. He logged 32 minutes and led the team with 14 points in the loss to Northern Iowa. The teams’ most recent meeting was a thriller, with Indiana State edging Belmont 81-80 in overtime on Dec. 29, 2025, in Terre Haute. That result guarantees nothing for the rematch, given the divergent paths the teams have taken since. Belmont will look to leverage its high-powered attack and home court, where it is 13-1 this season, to solidify its conference standing. Indiana State seeks to recapture its December form and derail the Bruins’ momentum, relying on Scott’s production to fuel an upset bid. Tip-off is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Belmont’s next game is at home against Evansville on Feb. 25. Indiana State travels to face Southern Illinois on Feb. 25.