VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — In a game defined by precision under pressure, Eoin Dillon’s flawless execution from the free-throw line in the final seconds lifted Belmont to a narrow 78-77 victory over Valparaiso in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball thriller Wednesday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Bruins, who led for nearly the entire contest, saw a once-comfortable advantage evaporate in the final minute before Dillon, a 6-foot-9 forward from Peoria, Illinois, sealed the win. His two free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining provided the final margin, capping a 23-point performance on 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range.

Belmont improved to 19-3 overall and remained near the top of the conference standings, while Valparaiso fell to 10-11.

The game appeared to be slipping from the Bruins’ grasp in the closing moments. After leading by as many as 13 in the first half and holding a 42-38 advantage at halftime, Belmont watched Valparaiso claw back. The Beacons’ Rakim Chaney, a 6-3 guard from Rockford, Illinois, hit a deep three-pointer with 9 seconds left to tie the game at 77, sending the home crowd of 1,713 into a frenzy.

Belmont immediately advanced the ball and called timeout. On the ensuing inbounds play, Dillon was fouled by Valparaiso’s Sader Servilus on a catch near the elbow, sending him to the line for a one-and-one opportunity. With the arena at full volume, Dillon calmly sank both shots.

Valparaiso had one final chance, but a desperation heave from near half-court by Owen Dease was off target as time expired.

The contest was a stark contrast in styles and efficiency. Belmont won despite committing 14 turnovers, which Valparaiso converted into 17 points, and recording only three assists as a team. The Bruins relied on superior shooting, connecting on 54% of their field goals (27 of 50) and 45.8% from three-point range (11 of 24). Valparaiso, meanwhile, shot just 42.6% from the floor (26 of 61) and 33.3% from deep (9 of 27).

Dillon’s scoring outburst was complemented by key contributions from his teammates. Jabez Jenkins, a 6-4 guard from Covington, Georgia, added 14 points, while Jack Smiley, a Valparaiso, Indiana, native playing in his hometown, scored 11 points, all in the first half. Drew Scharnowski, a 6-9 forward from Burlington, Illinois, facilitated the offense with a game-high eight assists to go with six points.

Valparaiso’s effort was led by a balanced attack. Dease scored 15 points, Chaney added 15, and Shon Tupuola provided a significant interior presence with 12 points, two blocks, and several key defensive plays. JT Pettigrew also chipped in 11 points for the Beacons.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final two minutes. With Belmont clinging to a 71-68 lead, Tupuola scored on a tip-in with 50 seconds left to cut the deficit to one. After a Belmont turnover, Tupuola was fouled and made one of two free throws to tie the game at 71 with 35 seconds remaining.

Belmont’s Tyler Lundblade then turned the ball over, giving Valparaiso a chance to take its first lead since the opening minutes. The Beacons worked the ball to Dease, but his three-point attempt was off the mark. Tupuola again grabbed the offensive rebound but subsequently lost the ball out of bounds with 10 seconds left, setting the stage for Chaney’s dramatic tying three-pointer and Dillon’s game-winning free throws.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Belmont, which also defeated Valparaiso 78-74 in Nashville on Jan. 13. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Belmont entered with a 78.90% probability to win and was a 4-point pregame favorite. The total score of 155 points surpassed the over/under line of 144.5.

Belmont will host Murray State on Saturday, while Valparaiso travels to face Indiana State.