FORT MYERS, Fla. (Interstat) — The Belmont Bruins remained undefeated, using a dominant second-half offensive display to pull away from the Toledo Rockets for an 87-72 victory in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday at the Coconut Hoops classic.

In a matchup of two efficient offenses, Belmont’s shooting proved superior, particularly from beyond the arc, as the Bruins methodically dismantled Toledo’s defense after halftime. Belmont improved its season record to 7-0, while Toledo moved to 4-3.

The game was a tight contest for the first 25 minutes. Toledo’s Austin Parks scored the game’s first basket on a hook shot and was a force early, helping the Rockets keep pace. A three-pointer from Toledo’s Leroy Blyden with 7:32 remaining in the first half gave the Rockets their largest lead of the game at 20-11.

Belmont responded with a 10-2 run, capped by a Brigham Rogers layup, to close the gap. The Bruins took their first significant lead late in the first half when a Jack Smiley assist led to a Jabez Jenkins three-pointer, sending Belmont into the break with a 36-33 advantage.

The second half belonged entirely to the Bruins. Belmont came out of the locker room with increased energy, quickly extending its lead. The Bruins opened the period on a 15-6 run, fueled by Sam Orme and Tyler Lundblade, to build a double-digit cushion that Toledo would never seriously threaten.

Belmont’s offensive execution was nearly flawless after halftime, scoring 51 points. The Bruins shot a scorching 58.3% from the field in the second half, consistently finding open looks against a scrambling Toledo defense.

Orme, a forward from Carmel, Indiana, was instrumental in the victory, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes. His versatility and scoring inside and out kept the Toledo defense off balance throughout the game.

Lundblade, a guard from Dallas, led all scorers with 22 points, including several crucial three-pointers that helped Belmont build and maintain its lead. He added four assists and three rebounds in 37 minutes of action.

For Toledo, Parks, a center from Saint Marys, Ohio, was a bright spot, scoring 15 points and grabbing five rebounds in just 19 minutes before fouling out. Sean Craig, a forward from Sylvania, Ohio, led the Rockets with 17 points and four rebounds.

The statistical story of the game was told by shooting percentages and ball security. Belmont was exceptionally efficient, connecting on 58.3% of its field goals and an even more impressive 50% from three-point range, making 15 of 30 attempts. Toledo shot a respectable 44.1% from the field and 36.7% from deep, but could not match Belmont’s offensive firepower.

A key differentiator was ball control. Belmont committed 19 turnovers, a season-high, which Toledo converted into multiple transition opportunities. However, the Rockets gave the ball away 11 times themselves and were unable to capitalize fully on Belmont’s miscues, in part due to the Bruins’ stifling half-court defense.

Belmont also dominated the glass, outrebounding Toledo 34-24 and grabbing nine offensive rebounds to Toledo’s five. This led to a 15-5 advantage in second-chance points, a critical margin in a game decided by 15 points.

The Bruins’ bench provided a significant spark, outscoring Toledo’s reserves 31-11. Jenkins finished with 12 points and five rebounds, while Rogers contributed 10 points and seven rebounds. Nic McClain added nine points, four rebounds and four assists.

For Toledo, Blyden scored 14 points and Sonny Wilson added 13 points and three assists, but the backcourt duo combined to shoot 10 of 26 from the field.

The game was played in front of a sparse crowd of 289 at a neutral site in southwest Florida. Belmont will look to continue its perfect start on the road against the College of Charleston on Sunday. Toledo returns home to face Central State on Monday.