Belmont lights it up from downtown to secure win for third-place in Riviera Division

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MX —  The Belmont Bruins (5-2) came out firing from downtown on Wednesday evening at the Hard Hotel Riviera Maya, and they did it in record-tying fashion, in the third-place game vs. Tulane (4-4) in the Riviera Division of the 2024 Men’s Cancun Challenge.

After some back-and-forth action early on, in front of a nationally televised audience, Belmont’s Tyler Lundblade, a former walk-on and transfer from SMU, started to rain three’s on the Green Wave. Lundeblade finished the half going 4-of-6 from downtown with 12 points.

Lundeblade’s hot shooting was contagious from beyond the arch for Belmont, with the Bruins hitting a total of 12 three-pointers in the first half, including six different players. Belmont impressed sharing the ball as well, racking up a total of 13 first half assists.

Tulane was able to keep the lead down to 45-35 at the break, largely in part to their ability to grab nine offensive rebounds to Belmont’s four.

Belmont continued to make it rain at the three-point line in the second half, tying a Cancun Challenge record 18 total made three-pointers. The Bruins finished with five players in double-digits, led by Lundblade’s 17 points.

Belmont will return to action for one last matchup of Cancun Challenge foes, hosting Gardner-Webb, the Mayan Division champions in Nashville on Friday, Nov. 29. Tulane will head back to New Orleans to host Southeastern Louisiana on Monday, Dec. 2.

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