Box Score WASHINGTON - - Behind 17 points each from juniors Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) and Caleb Hollander (Nashville, Tenn.) Belmont University men's basketball defeated George Mason, 77-67, Friday in the DC Paradise Jam presented by the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Bruins weathered an inauspicious start which saw George Mason make its first 10 field goal attempts of the game in building a 34-20 lead.
From there, Belmont responded with more purposeful play on both ends of the floor, as Hollander's all-court scoring sparked the cause.
Belmont held the Patriots scoreless for six minutes, with freshman Even Brauns (Iowa City, Iowa) capping a 16-0 run to give the Bruins the lead.
A driving basket from junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) lifted Belmont to a 41-40 halftime lead.
Post scores from Muszynski and a wing 3-pointer from sophomore EJ Bellinger (St. Peters, Mo.) made the score 51-44 with 14:11 left.
Belmont's defense secured the paint as the game went on and the Bruins methodically seized control.
A Muszynski slam off a driving feed from freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.) and a coast to coast basket from junior Luke Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) increased the lead to 11, 59-48, with 9:14 left.
Following another Smith 3-pointer, George Mason got as close as 68-63 with two minutes remaining on a Tyler Kolek basket.
But Hollander answered with a straight-on 3-pointer on Belmont's next possession to help secure the victory.
All told, Belmont shot 53 percent (28-for-53) from the field - including 8-for-19 from 3-point distance.
The Bruins forced 15 turnovers.
With 17 points, Muszynski became the 20th member of Belmont's NCAA Division I era 1,000-point club. He has 1,007 career points.
Smith, who added 16 points, four assists and four steals, also went over 1,000 career points when including his first two seasons at Sewanee.
Murphy added his second consecutive double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
Jordan Miller led George Mason (1-1) with 19 points.
Belmont has won 14 consecutive games.
Belmont (2-0) returns to game action Saturday vs. Queens (NC). Tip is set for 11 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 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.
