NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Thursday at Jacksonville State.
Belmont defeated Murray State, 81-69, Feb. 2. Junior Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) had a team-high 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Bruins.
Senior All-America candidate Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) has 115 points and 60 rebounds in his last five games versus Jacksonville State. Bradds, who is a finalist for the Julius Erving Award, had 24 points and 13 rebounds in the meeting earlier this season.
Senior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) went 5-for-7 from 3-point distance in last year's home victory over Jacksonville State.
Belmont has several ties to the state of Alabama. Belmont assistant coach James Strong and 2013 OVC Tournament MVP Kerron Johnson are natives of Huntsville. Former Bruin Drew Windler ('14) attended Samford University for three seasons. Assistant coach Mark Price is a graduate of Samford University and coached at Faulkner and UAH. Former Bruin Mick Hedgepeth ('12) is a native of Crossville.
Belmont and Jacksonville State met five times as Atlantic Sun Conference members from 2000-03.
Belmont's victory at Jacksonville State in 2014 helped the Bruins secure a fifth consecutive regular season conference championship, and second straight in the OVC (2013, 2014).
Belmont faced Jacksonville State head coach Ray Harper each of the past two seasons in his capacity as head coach at Western Kentucky.
This marks the 15th meeting between Belmont and Jacksonville State.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network. In-game updates will be available via Twitter @BelmontMBB.
Belmont at Jacksonville State Game Notes
