Forward Malik Dia collected a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds powering Belmont to an 86-61 romp past Valparaiso in the first round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Thursday at the Enterprise Center.
The Bruins, earning their fourth straight victory, improved to 20-12 overall marking the team’s 14th straight 20-plus win campaign as well as the program’s 20th overall 20-plus win season.
Belmont also earned its first ever MVC Tournament win, while advancing to Friday’s quarterfinal round against No 4 seed UNI. Belmont also collected its sixth straight victory against Valparaiso.
Belmont shot 52.4 percent from the floor (33-63), improving its record to 12-2 this season when shot 50 percent or better from the floor. Belmont made 10 three-point baskets, marking the 16th time the Bruins made 10-plus treys in a game including the last four straight.
Valparaiso closed out the season with a 7-25 record. One game after shooting a season-high 52.5 percent from the floor in a win against Illinois State March 3, Valparaiso shot a season-low 27.5 percent (22-80).
Isaiah Stafford led the Beacons with 20 points. Jerome Palm collected his second double-double with 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Forward Cooper Schwieger, the MVC Freshman of the Year, who averaged 17 points in two games against Belmont this season, struggled from the floor making just 5 of 15 shots to finish with 12 points.
Belmont made 8 of its first 12 shots to open the game racing to a 21-4 lead. Three straight baskets by Dia in a 56-second span extended the cushion to 31-11 with 10:26 left in the first half.
Belmont increased its lead to 79-37 with 7:51 left in the game following a dunk by Brigham Rogers who finished with a career-high 15 points. Valparaiso did dominate the boards in the second half, while scoring 17 second-chance points compared to two by Belmont.
