NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Evan Bradds scored 24 points and Belmont (9-4, 3-0) shot a blistering 65.4 percent from the field in the second half to get by Southeast Missouri (6-12, 1-2), 87-75, Saturday night at the Curb Event Center.
 
Belmont shot 58.8 percent (30-of-51) for the game, making 17-of-26 shots with seven 3-pointers in the game's final 20 minutes.
 
"I thought we did a great job taking care of the ball in the first half," said SEMO head coach Rick Ray. "We have to do a better job of doing that the entire game. Offensively, we played well, but I thought we took too many quick shots. We just didn't limit their possessions and make them defend long enough."
 
The Bruins quickly heated up to make seven-straight field goals in the second half. Belmont knocked down its first four 3-pointers to key a 16-7 run and take a 52-45 lead just 4:13 into the final period. Amanze Egekeze made two of those threes and scored eight points during that stretch.
 
SEMO responded with a 13-2 jaunt of its own to regain a three-point cushion. Denzel Mahoney, who went scoreless in the first half, drained a pair of 3-pointers and Trey Kellum added three points, as his free throw put the Redhawks ahead, 59-56, at the 10:52 mark.
 
Once the game reached its 12^th tie at 61-61, Belmont fueled 14-2 surge to widen its lead to double figures again and never looked back after that.
 
SEMO forced 10 turnovers in the first half and scored 12 points off eight of those miscues in the opening 12:09 of the contest.
 
Down, 15-14, the Redhawks went on an 11-0 run to take a double-digit lead. Milos Vranes, who did not play due to a hamstring injury two days ago at Tennessee State, gave the Redhawks a big lift.
 
He scored four points, had two big offensive rebounds and an assist to William Tchiengang who capped the stretch with a layup to put SEMO ahead, 25-15, with 7:27 left.
 
Belmont immediately answered with a 12-0 run of its own to regain a 27-25 advantage. Dylan Windler and Egekeze each buried a 3-pointer, while Bradds added the other six points.
 
Both teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half before heading into the locker room deadlocked at 36-36.
 
Antonius Cleveland scored 16 points in 17 minutes in the first half and led SEMO with 24 points. He shot 9-of-15 from the field, hit two threes and made a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line. Cleveland posted his team-high seventh 20-point performance this season.
 
Kellum followed with 13 points and two rebounds. He did not miss from the field going 5-of-5. Mahoney added 11 points, all in the second half.
 
Bradds led four Belmont starters in double figures. He shot 10-of-14 from the field with 16 of his points coming on layups.
 
Windler nailed 5-of-6 from 3-point range and chipped in 23 points.
 
Meanwhile, Taylor Barnette and Egekeze added 18 and 15 points, respectively.
 
Belmont outscored SEMO, 51-39, and 18-4 off turnovers in the second half.
 
In all, there were 12 ties and nine lead changes between the two teams.
 
The Bruins improved to 83-6 all-time at the Curb Event Center since 2010. Belmont's homecourt record is third-best in the nation only to Kansas and Kentucky.
 
SEMO returns to Cape Girardeau to host Tennessee Tech Tuesday. Tip-off is 6:30 p.m., CT, at the Show Me Center.