NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Thursday at Southeast Missouri.
The Bruins defeated Eastern Illinois, 87-55, Jan. 4. Sophomore
Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) had 25 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots in the victory. The 6-11 center is averaging 17.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game over his last three games on 67 percent shooting. Muszynski was a 2019
Basketball Times Freshman All-America selection and was named Preseason All-OVC. Muszynski scored a season-high 27 points vs. Southeast Missouri last season in Nashville.
Belmont currently ranks top 10 nationally in four statistical categories, including first in defensive rebounds per game, fourth in assists per game, eighth in total assists and eighth in 3-point field goals per game.
Sophomore
Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) has 13 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 17.3 points per game.
Sophomore
Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) had 11 rebounds and six assists vs. Eastern Illinois. Murphy has five career double-doubles and leads the nation in rebounding from the point guard position (8.5).
Graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) has provided quality, consistent production for Belmont this season. The 6-7 forward had 17 points vs. Eastern Illinois, and is averaging 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game over his last five games.
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 19 consecutive starts for the Bruins.
Former Belmont All-American Ian Clark ('13) and former Southeast Missouri standout Antonius Cleveland each spent time with the Golden State Warriors organization. Clark was a member of the 2017 NBA Champion Warriors while Cleveland was signed by Golden State and played for the G-League Santa Cruz Warriors. Clark currently plays in China while Cleveland is on a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
As a senior, Amanze Egekeze ('18) went 7-for-7 from the field, 3-for-3 from 3-point distance, and 4-for-4 from the free throw line in his 21-point effort vs. Southeast Missouri; he became the first Bruin to go perfect from the field (min. seven FGA) and free throw line in a game since Evan Bradds did so in his final game at the Curb Event Center (vs. Tennessee State, 2/25/17).
2019 graduate Kevin McClain scored a total of 58 points vs. the Redhawks last season. Belmont secured the 2019 OVC regular season championship with a win at Southeast Missouri in the regular season finale.
This marks the ninth meeting between Belmont and Southeast Missouri. The Bruins won both meetings last season.
Tip-off is set for 7:15 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 Southeast Missouri 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.
