NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering second-half reversal, the Belmont Bruins overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to edge the Illinois-Chicago Flames 87-84 in a non-conference men’s basketball thriller Saturday afternoon at Curb Events Center.

The contest, organized by the Missouri Valley Conference, saw the host Bruins improve to 10-1 while the Flames fell to 4-6.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably Belmont’s explosive offensive performance after the break. After a sluggish first half in which they managed only 30 points on 10-of-28 shooting and trailed 43-30, the Bruins erupted for 57 points in the second half. They shot a blistering 19 of 22 from the floor, including 8 of 12 from three-point range, to complete the comeback in front of 1,428 fans.

The Flames, who led by as many as 16 points in the first half, could not sustain their early momentum against Belmont’s relentless efficiency. The Bruins scored 87 points on just 64 possessions, an offensive rating of 135.0, while the Flames posted a strong 126.9 rating on their 66 possessions but could not keep pace in the final 20 minutes.

Illinois-Chicago was led by a spectacular scoring outburst from guard Josiah Hammons. The Chicago native came off the bench to pour in 31 points in just 25 minutes, shooting 9 of 17 from the field and 7 of 13 from beyond the arc. He single-handedly kept the Flames in contention late, hitting a deep three-pointer with eight seconds remaining to cut Belmont’s lead to 85-84.

Andy Johnson added 17 points and five assists for the Flames, while Rashund Washington contributed 11 points. The Flames shot 44.6% from the field and a perfect 13 for 13 from the free-throw line but were ultimately undone by Belmont’s superior shooting (58.0% overall) and a 32-28 disadvantage in points in the paint.

Belmont’s victory was a balanced effort, spearheaded by guard Nic McClain. The Jennings, Florida, product orchestrated the offense with 17 points and a game-high seven assists. Forward Sam Orme provided 16 points, and Drew Scharnowski added 12 points, four assists and two blocks. Tyler Lundblade matched McClain’s 17 points, including several critical second-half threes, and reserve Jack Smiley chipped in 11 key points.

The Bruins, who entered as a 13.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, also benefited from a significant advantage in ball security. They committed only eight turnovers, leading to just 10 points for UIC, while the Flames’ 13 turnovers resulted in 19 points for Belmont.

After a first half controlled by UIC’s Hammons and defensive energy, the game turned decisively in the opening minutes of the second period. Belmont opened the half on a 14-4 run to quickly erase the deficit, fueled by inside scores from Scharnowski and Orme and a three-pointer from Lundblade. The Bruins never trailed after McClain’s driving layup gave them a 44-43 lead with 15:42 to play, though the Flames fought back to tie the game on multiple occasions.

The final sequence encapsulated the night’s drama. After Hammons’ late three brought UIC within one, Belmont’s Lundblade was fouled and calmly sank two free throws with eight seconds left to extend the lead to 87-84. The Flames had one final chance, but Hammons’ contested, game-tying three-point attempt from the top of the key as time expired missed off the rim.

The total score of 171 points sailed over the sportsbook over/under line of 153.5. Interstat’s ELO system had given Belmont a 90.2% probability to win pregame.

Illinois-Chicago returns to action Wednesday at home against Northern Iowa. Belmont travels to face Evansville on Tuesday.