NASHVILLE (Interstat) — Devyn Martin scored 23 points and Lipscomb used a decisive first-half run and a steady closing stretch to beat Belmont 88-75 on Tuesday at Allen Arena in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game. The Bisons improved to 2-2, while the visiting Bruins fell to 2-1. A crowd of 3,577 attended the game at Lipscomb’s home arena. Lipscomb never trailed after a mid-first-half surge, though Belmont remained within striking distance until the final minutes. The Bisons finished with a 13-point victory.

Lipscomb finished with 88 points from 71 possessions, an offensive rating of 124.4, while Belmont scored 75 points from 75 possessions, an offensive rating of 100.4. The Bisons shot 35 of 64 from the floor, 9 of 28 from 3-point range and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. The Bruins shot 30 of 66 from the field, 6 of 19 from beyond the arc and 9 of 12 at the line. Lipscomb held a 50-44 edge in points in the paint, scored 15 points off 13 Belmont turnovers and added 18 fast-break points. Belmont scored 11 points off eight Lipscomb turnovers and had 14 fast-break points. The Bisons had eight assists, four blocks and six offensive rebounds. The Bruins had six assists, 10 offensive rebounds and 16 fouls. Lipscomb committed 10 fouls.

The first half featured several ties early before Lipscomb created separation with a 13-0 run. Simpkins opened the scoring with a layup, Jenkins answered with two driving layups and Martin scored inside as the teams traded baskets. Gersmehl made two free throws after a turnover, Smiley made a driving layup, and Esmeraldo answered with a turnaround jumper and two free throws. Jenkins dunked to tie the game at 12, and Belmont took a 14-12 lead on Neugebauer’s layup. Sargiunas then hit consecutive 3-pointers, Esmeraldo added a 3-pointer off a turnover and Simpkins and Okpara followed with layups to push the Bisons ahead 25-14. Belmont answered with a Neugebauer layup, but Lipscomb kept the Bruins at arm’s length. Smiley hit a stepback 3-pointer and a fast-break 3-pointer to help Belmont close the gap, and Martin scored in the paint repeatedly for Lipscomb. Tidare’s 3-pointer in the final minute of the half helped Lipscomb take a 40-32 lead into halftime. Belmont cut into the deficit just before the break when Ristic made one free throw and a 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Lipscomb opened the second half with buckets from Martin and Okpara before Belmont tried to rally. Jenkins scored inside, Smiley hit a jumper and West made a driving layup as the Bruins pulled closer. Okpara answered with a 3-pointer, and Lipscomb maintained a cushion. Neugebauer made a hook shot, Martin scored again and Ristic converted a driving layup, but Lipscomb’s Sargiunas answered with a turnaround jumper. Belmont trimmed the deficit to seven on Smiley’s 3-pointer with 13:04 remaining and again to eight on another Smiley 3-pointer with 11:05 left. Lipscomb then produced the decisive answer. Simpkins hit a 3-pointer, Sargiunas scored on a drive and the Bisons pushed their lead back to double digits. Belmont made one more push. Smiley converted two free throws, Zobrist made a three-point play and Neugebauer dunked to cut the margin to 71-62. Lipscomb answered with a Byrne 3-pointer and a Byrne layup. Belmont pulled within 78-72 on Jenkins’ two fast-break free throws, but Simpkins hit a 3-pointer with 1:32 left. Smiley made a 3-pointer with 1:01 remaining to make it 81-75, and Lipscomb sealed the win at the free-throw line. Esmeraldo made two free throws, Martin added a free throw, Simpkins made two and Martin closed the scoring with two more free throws.

Martin, a 6-foot-8 forward from Knoxville, Tennessee, led Lipscomb with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes. Jenkins had 14 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes for Belmont. Smiley scored 23 points with three rebounds and one assist in 35 minutes. Esmeraldo added 11 points, five rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes for the Bisons. Sargiunas scored 17 points with three rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes. Simpkins had 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and one block in 33 minutes. Okpara contributed 11 points, four rebounds, one assist and three blocks in 20 minutes. Ristic posted 10 points, five rebounds and seven assists in 25 minutes for the Bruins. Neugebauer had 10 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes. West finished with four points, four rebounds and five assists in 18 minutes.

Lipscomb’s frontcourt production and backcourt balance helped offset Belmont’s edge on the offensive glass. The Bisons finished with a 50-44 advantage in paint scoring and a 15-11 edge in points off turnovers, while Belmont’s 10 offensive rebounds helped it stay within range. The Bruins shot better from the free-throw line by percentage, but Lipscomb’s efficiency from the floor and its ability to answer Belmont’s runs proved decisive. Lipscomb also held an 18-14 edge in fast-break points. Lipscomb had won its previous game against SIU Edwardsville before falling at Iowa and Southeast Missouri State. Belmont had beaten Southern Indiana and Centre.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Belmont 80, Lipscomb 75. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Belmont with an 80.1 percent probability to win. Belmont had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -3.5. The over/under line was 157.5, and the game produced a total score of 163.