Orme scores 22, Belmont defeats Drake 103-90

Bulldogs’ Quinn makes career best five three’s,

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sam Orme had 22 points in Belmont’s 103-90 victory over Drake on Tuesday night.

Orme shot 8 for 12, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc for the Bruins (21-3, 11-2 Missouri Valley Conference). Drew Scharnowski added 19 points while going 8 of 10 and 3 of 9 from the free-throw line to go with seven rebounds. Jack Smiley shot 7 for 9, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 18 points, while adding six assists. It was the eighth straight win for the Bruins.

The Bulldogs (12-12, 6-7) were led by Jalen Quinn, who finished with 22 points. Jaehshon Thomas added 16 points and four assists for Drake. Owen Larson also recorded 14 points and four assists.

Belmont took the lead with 14:53 remaining in the first half and did not trail again. Smiley led the Bruins with 13 points in the first half to help put them up 51-43 at the break. Scharnowski scored 15 points in the second half.

Drake Team Notes
—Drake, suffering its second straight loss, leveled its record to 12-12 overall including a 6-7 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference.
—The Bulldogs evened their record to 4-4 in road games.
—There were two lead changes and two ties in the game.
—Drake outrebounded Belmont, 35-26, including a 10-8 advantage on the offensive boards.
—Drake shot 53.3 percent from the floor (32-60), including 50 percent (16-32) in the second half. It marked the fourth time in the last five games the Bulldogs have shot 50 percent or better in the second half after hitting 55.2 percent (16-29) in the second half against Murray State Jan. 21, 57.6 percent in the second half (15-26) at Indiana State Jan. 24 and 56.5 percent (13-23) against Evansville Jan. 28.
—Drake shot 50 percent from three-point range (14-28), marking the third time this season the Bulldogs have shot 50 percent or better beyond the three-point arc.
—Drake has made 31 three-point baskets in two games against Belmont. That’s the most the Bruins have allowed to an MVC opponent that it has played twice this season.
—It also marked the eighth game Drake has made 10 or more three-point baskets in a game with the 14 treys tying for third highest in a game trailing 19 against Western Illinois, 17 in an earlier home game against Belmont and 14 against North Dakota State.
—Drake’s 19 assists were the most by the Bulldogs over the past 13 games.
—Drake fell to 4-11 when trailing at halftime.

Player Notes
—Senior transfer guard Jalen Quinn enjoyed his 13th 20-plus scoring game of the season, leading Drake with 22 points—14 in the second half.
—The 13, 20-plus scoring games also are the most by a player in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.
—It marked Quinn’s seventh straight 20-plus scoring game. He is averaging 27.1 points during that stretch: 21 at Southern Illinois, 28 at UIC, 34 vs. Murray State, 27 at Indiana State, 26 vs. Evansville, 32 vs. Bradley, and 22 at Belmont.
—Quinn made a season-high five three-point baskets, marking his third game with three or more three-point baskets this season.
—Guard Jaehshon Thomas chipped in with 16 points, surpassing his entire combined output of 12 points in his last three games. Thomas, who made all five free throws, added four assists and four rebounds.
—Junior Andrew Alia and sophomore transfer Owen Larson added 14 points apiece.
—Alia made all four free throw attempts, extending his string to 28 consecutive free throws made.
—Eli Shetlar scored nine points – on three three-point baskets in the opening 8:45 of the game – but did not play in the second half after suffering a sprained ankle late in the first half.
—It marked the ninth game this season that Shetlar has made three three-point baskets in a game including the second straight contest.
—Larson and sophomore transfer Okku Federiko led Drake with five rebounds apiece.
—Wilguens Jr. Exacte, who had started in 13 games, missed his tenth consecutive game because of a foot injury.

The Series
—Drake, suffering its second straight loss to Belmont, still leads the all-time series, 5-4 including a 1-2 mark in games played in Nashville.