Belmont tops 2nd seed Eastern Kentucky, 53-52

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Evan Bradds sank two free throws with :26 left and Amanze Egekeze rebounded a Corey Walden miss with one second left in the game as No. 3 seed Belmont upset No. 2 seed Eastern Kentucky, 53-52 Friday night to earn a date with top-seeded Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The win ended the Colonels (19-11) quest for a second straight OVC tournament crown and the automatic berth into the NCAA tournament that goes with it.

Eastern Kentucky took a seven-point lead at the break, but managed to score just 19 second-half points.

Taylor Barnett knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:45 left to give Belmont (21-10) its first lead of the second half, 51-50, and finished with 14 points. Craig Bradshaw and Reece Chamberlain added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Eric Stutz scored 18 points and Walden, the 2014 OVC tournament MVP, added 12 to lead Eastern Kentucky.