Belmont 80, Mercer 72

Published Mar. 4, 2011 9:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

Jordan Campbell scored 17 points as top-seeded Belmont defeated Mercer 80-72 on Friday night in the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament.

The Bruins (29-3) tied the conference's single-season record for wins. College of Charleston went 29-3 in 1996-97 and Georgia State went 29-5 in 2000-01.

Belmont is the first team in the nation to reach 29 wins this season. Kansas, Ohio State, Coastal Carolina and San Diego State all have 28.

The Bruins' bench, which leads the nation in points per game, scored 48 points. Belmont advances to its fourth A-Sun championship game. The Bruins have won their three previous trips.

The drought for the host team winning the tournament extends to 10 years with Mercer's loss. Georgia State, in 2001, remains the last host to win on its home floor.

Brian Mills led Mercer with 21 points.