Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - - Behind balanced scoring and strong defense, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Western Kentucky, 79-62, Saturday night.
Belmont has won seven consecutive games against the Conference USA favorites.
Senior Michael Benkert (Greenwood, Ind.) capped an 11-2 run to give Belmont an early seven point lead.
Playing off of the post presence of sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio), the Bruins extended to a 16-8 lead eight minutes in on a 3-pointer from junior Nick Hopkins (Fayetteville, Tenn.).
Belmont's halfcourt defense was stingy, forcing Western Kentucky into contested passes and perimeter shots.
As the Hilltoppers scored one field goal over a seven-minute span, Muszynski and Hopkins helped push Belmont to a 36-24 halftime lead.
Belmont shot 45 percent (14-for-31) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including 7-for-17 from 3-point distance.
Western Kentucky closed within 42-37 with 16:38 left on two Josh Anderson free throws.
Despite foul trouble for leading scorer sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.), Belmont led wire-to-wire.
Kunkel capped an 8-0 run to give Belmont a 50-37 lead with 14:34 left.
From there, a flurry of 3-pointers from Benkert during a two-minute span made the score 70-51 with 5:42 remaining.
It was arguably Belmont's most complete performance of the season; outrebounding Western Kentucky, 45-35, and limiting the Hilltoppers to a season-low 34 percent shooting.
Graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) led five Bruins in double figures with 18 points. Benkert scored a career-high 15, while Muszynski had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Hopkins added 11, and sophomore Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) flirted with a triple-double before finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
Carson Williams led Western Kentucky (7-5) with 12 points.
Belmont (9-4) returns to game action Thursday, Jan. 2 vs. SIU Edwardsville.
