NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to play Monday vs. Florida in the non-bracketed portion of the AdvoCare Invitational.
Belmont defeated Western Kentucky, 90-69, Saturday. Senior Nick Smith (Bentonville, Ark.) scored a career-high 18 points for the Bruins. Senior All-America candidate Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) delivered 26 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists.
Belmont may feel like a charter member of the SEC, as this marks the third time in the last four games the Bruins will play a program from the SEC East. Belmont closed the 2015-16 season at Georgia in the Postseason NIT, then opened this season at Vanderbilt.
Belmont's two victories over Southeastern Conference opposition rank among the top moments in program history. Belmont defeated No. 22 Missouri (12/30/03), 71-67, for the Bruins' first-ever victory over a nationally-ranked team, in just its seventh season of NCAA Division I. The Bruins defeated Alabama (11/19/07), 85-83, as Justin Hare buried a pullup jumper with 2.2 seconds remaining. Afterwards, former Alabama and current North Carolina State head coach Mark Gottfried said, "Belmont doesn't have shot takers, it has shot makers."
Former Belmont All-American Ian Clark ('13) was teammates with former Florida standout Marreese Speights on the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. Clark, in his fourth NBA season, is still on the Warriors, while Speights is playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Sophomore Kevin McClain is a native of Jennings, Florida, and will be playing his first collegiate game in his home state.
Belmont and Florida were originally scheduled to open the season Nov. 11 in Jacksonville. But Florida approached Belmont about the prospect of playing Nov. 21 in Tampa, and Belmont was able to make that date work and play as part of the non-bracketed portion of the AdvoCare Invitational.
This marks the second meeting between Belmont and Florida. The Gators won, Dec. 30, 2001, in the Bruins' sixth season of play in NCAA Division I.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT from Amalie Arena in Tampa. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network and WatchESPN. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network.
Belmont vs. Florida Game Notes
