BROOKINGS, S.D. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action following semester exams Saturday at South Dakota State.
Belmont was slated to host Fairfield Wednesday, but the Stags were unable to travel due to inclement weather. The Bruins defeated Middle Tennessee, 70-58, Dec. 3. Senior J.J. Mann scored a career-high 32 points en route to OVC Player of the Week honors.
Last season's meeting between the Bruins and Jackrabbits featured two of the nation's top guards: Belmont's Ian Clark and South Dakota State's Nate Wolters. Nearly a dozen NBA scouts attended the game. Clark is currently a member of the Utah Jazz while Wolters plays for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Furthermore, Wolters' agent is former Belmont men's basketball player Jared Karnes ('00).
One of the most decorated student-athletes in Belmont University history is a proud native of South Dakota. Brittany Thune ('10) was a two-time Atlantic Sun Conference Runner of the Year, 2010 Atlantic Sun Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year, Belmont University Presidential Scholar of the Year, and recipient of a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Thune is the daughter of United States Senator from South Dakota John Thune.
This marks the second meeting between Belmont and South Dakota State. The Bruins won, 76-49, in Nashville last season, breaking open a close game in the second half. Senior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the game - one of Jenkins' three career double-doubles.
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CT. The live play-by-play can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network and 104.5 The Zone. Live video streaming will be provided by South Dakota State 'Jackrabbit Extra' (subscription rates may apply). In-game updates will be provided via Twitter @BelmontMBB.
Game Notes - Belmont at South Dakota State
