Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - J.J. Mann scored 21 points as the Belmont Bruins held off the Tennessee State Tigers for a 73-71 win in an Ohio Valley Conference battle at the Curb Events Center.

Reece Chamberlain contributed 19 points and six assists for the Bruins (20-8, 11-2 OVC), who also received 10 points courtesy of Craig Bradshaw. Evan Bradds pulled down a team-high nine rebounds to help Belmont collect its third victory in a row.

For TSU (3-24, 2-11), Patrick Miller poured in a game-high 23 points and Jay Harris netted 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor. M.J. Rhett registered a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 19 boards while Jamonte Graham also added 10 points.

Belmont took control in the early stages of the contest and jumped out to a 25-10 lead by the 11:05 mark of the first half. The Tigers scored 13 unanswered points to cut the deficit to just two points before they went into the intermission trailing, 37-33. TSU connected on only 3-of-11 attempts from 3-point range and allowed the Bruins to knock down 48.3 percent of their field goal attempts before the break.

The Tigers were held to 40 percent efficiency from the floor in the second stanza, but converted 12-of-15 tries at the charity stripe to keep pressure on the hosts. Belmont managed to hang on for the decision despite being outrebounded, 22-15, over the final 20 minutes of the contest. Mann a pair of three-throw attempts with 18 seconds left in regulation to give the Bruins a 73-69 lead before Rhett made it a one-possession game with a layup just before the final buzzer sounded.

TSU finished with a 41-27 advantage in total rebounds and 21 second chance points.