Mick Hedgepeth hit 8 of 9 shots and scored 23 points to direct Belmont to a 95-62 victory over Eastern Illinois on Saturday night. Keaton Belcher scored 15, and Jordan Campbell and Drew Hanlen had 11 apiece for the Bruins (3-2). Tyler Laser led the Panthers (3-2) with 21 points, but no teammate had more than eight. The Bruins held big advantages in shooting, 52.5 percent to 36.5 percent, and 3-point shooting, 43.8 percent (14 of 32) to 22.2 percent (2 of 9). It got one-sided quickly. Jeremy Granger scored to give Eastern Illinois a 5-4 lead with 1:35 gone, but Hedgepeth's jumper 14 seconds later put the Bruins ahead to stay. They led 47-22 at halftime. The gap hit 62-31 on Hanlen's basket with 14:45 to go and finally reached 40 points at 90-50 on Hedgepeth's layup with 5:33 left. Eastern Illinois will visit Belmont on Dec. 19.
