NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Saturday at Jacksonville State.
The Bruins defeated Tennessee Tech, 92-84, Thursday. Sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) led six Bruins in double figures with 19 points.
Belmont, the nation's leader in assists per game and total assists, handed out 24 assists on 30 made field goals at Tennessee Tech.
The Bruins currently rank first in the Ohio Valley Conference in 11 statistical categories, including scoring offense (81.6), 3-point field goals per game (10.5) and defensive rebounds per game (30.18). Likewise, Belmont is top 25 nationally in 11 statistical categories, including fourth in total 3-point field goals made (230) and fifth in assist-turnover ratio (1.53).
Belmont and Jacksonville State are the top two teams in defensive efficiency in OVC games per Ken Pomeroy.
Muszynski has 19 double figure scoring games this season and with 817 points is threatening to become the fastest Belmont player to 1,000 career points in the NCAA Division I era. Muszynski scored 23 points last season at Jacksonville State.
Sophomore Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) has eight career double-doubles, including five this season. The 6-2 guard leads the nation in rebounding from the point guard position (8.0) and assist-turnover ratio (4.03).
Sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) has a team-high 20 double figure scoring games this season and ranks seventh in the OVC in scoring at 16.8 points per game. The 6-3 guard had a career-high 35 points in Belmont's victory at Boston College.
Graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) has recorded double figures in 11 of his last 12 games, and ranks among OVC leaders in scoring, 3-point field goal percentage and 3-point field goals per game. The 6-7 forward scored a season-high 21 points at Southeast Missouri.
Senior Michael Benkert (Greenwood, Ind.) scored a career-high 15 points at Western Kentucky and had 11 points at Tennessee Tech. One of the top perimeter defenders in the OVC, Benkert has made 26 consecutive starts for the Bruins.
Junior Nick Hopkins (Fayetteville, Tenn.) had 10 points and a season-high three steals at Tennessee Tech. The 6-0 guard, who has 25 career double figure scoring games, had 11 points and three steals at Jacksonville State last season.
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 has strong ties to the state of Alabama; including all-time great Kerron Johnson (Huntsville) and assistant coaches Sean Rutigliano (UAH), Tyler Holloway (Decatur) and Mick Hedgepeth (Crossville).
Two-time All-American Evan Bradds ('17) had 152 points and 76 rebounds in his last seven games vs. Jacksonville State.
This marks the 21st meeting between Belmont and Jacksonville State.
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ 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.
Belmont at Jacksonville State 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.
