FLASH SALE $3 tickets available NOW at belmontbruins.com CLICK HERE!
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Thursday vs. Eastern Kentucky.
The Bruins defeated UT Martin, 85-78, Jan. 11. Sophomore Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) had 19 points, eight rebounds, 12 assists and four steals. The 6-2 guard ranks among OVC leaders in seven statistical categories, including first in assists per game and assist-turnover ratio and second in steals per game. Murphy has six career double-doubles and leads the nation in rebounding from the point guard position (8.1).
Belmont currently ranks top 10 nationally in seven statistical categories, including third in defensive rebounds per game, assists per game, and total assists, seventh in assist-turnover ratio and eighth in 3-point field goals per game.
Sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) had 12 points and 10 rebounds at UT Martin for his fifth double-double. The 6-11 center has 14 double figure scoring games this season and is among OVC leaders in scoring and rebounding. Muszynski was a 2019 Basketball Times Freshman All-America selection and was named Preseason All-OVC. He averaged 13.5 points per game vs. Eastern Kentucky last season.
Graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) has provided quality, consistent production for Belmont this season. The 6-7 forward is averaging 16.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game over his last six games. Scanlon was named OVC Newcomer of the Week Dec. 30.
Sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) has 14 double figure scoring games this season, including a career-high 35 points in Belmont's victory at Boston College. The 6-3 guard has been OVC Player of the Week twice this season, and ranks fourth in the conference in scoring at 17.2 points per game. Kunkel scored 19 points at UT Martin.
Senior Michael Benkert (Greenwood, Ind.) scored a career-high 15 points at Western Kentucky Dec. 28. One of the top perimeter defenders in the OVC, Benkert has made 21 consecutive starts for the Bruins.
Belmont's victory at UT Martin was its 100th regular season conference game since joining the OVC in 2013; the Bruins are 100-20 in OVC regular season games.
Former Belmont guard Dylan Windler ('19) and former Eastern Kentucky forward Nick Mayo ('19) stand as two of the most outstanding players in OVC history. The duo rank among all-time leaders in points and rebounds. Windler and Mayo each received 2019 OVC Preseason Player of the Year accolades from various college basketball publications. Windler is a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers while Mayo is playing professionally in Japan.
Former Belmont standout and 2014 OVC Player of the Year J.J. Mann played at Hargrave Military Academy, where he was coached by Eastern Kentucky head coach A.W. Hamilton.
Two-time Belmont All-America forward Evan Bradds ('17) has a younger brother, Ethan, who is on the football team at Eastern Kentucky. Evan currently serves as a video coordinator on Brad Stevens' coaching staff with the Boston Celtics.
This marks the 19th meeting between Belmont and Eastern Kentucky. The Bruins won both meetings last season.
Numerous records were set in the Jan. 12, 2019 meeting between Belmont and Eastern Kentucky, including most combined points in Curb Event Center history (202) and most points scored by Belmont in a regulation game of the NCAA Division I era (109).
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and the ESPN app. 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.
The game will be 'CODE BLUE' - with Belmont fans encouraged to wear Belmont blue. There will be a pregame tailgate in the Beaman Student Life Center at 6:30 p.m. CT (upon completion of the Belmont-Eastern Kentucky women's basketball game). FREE food, drink and T-shirts will be provided (while supplies last).
Eastern Kentucky at Belmont Game Notes
Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 13 of the last 14 seasons, including eight berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 17 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont is one of only six NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 RPIs nine consecutive seasons (BYU, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont is one of only nine NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 14 consecutive seasons (BYU, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, San Diego State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 17 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence.
