NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Saturday at Lipscomb.
The Bruins defeated Tennessee State, 79-64, Tuesday. Junior Luke Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored 23 points, while junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) added 22 points and 11 rebounds. Belmont limited Tennessee State to 38 percent shooting while forcing 14 turnovers.
Smith leads the OVC scoring (20.2 ppg) among players who have played multiple games, while ranking among national leaders in 3-point field goals and steals. The 6-0 guard was named OVC Newcomer of the Week following his opening weekend performance which earned DC Paradise Jam Most Valuable Player honors.
Muszynski tied the Curb Event Center single-game record with 21 free throw attempts vs. Tennessee State. The 6-11 center has 57 career double figure scoring games and is one of only three post players in America to score 975 or more points over the last two seasons.
Junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) has continued his astounding rebounding rate from last season. After leading the nation in rebounding from the point guard position, Murphy has already recorded three double figure rebounding games this season, including two of his 11 career double-doubles. The reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year ranks second in the OVC in rebounding (9.6 rpg) and is on pace to threaten OVC career records in assists and steals.
Sophomore Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) had seven points, three rebounds and two assists vs. Tennessee State. The 6-6 guard made 32 game appearances last season, emerging as a valuable two-way player for Belmont.
Freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.) was named co-OVC Freshman of the Week Monday. The dynamic playmaker has four double figure scoring games and leads the OVC in scoring among freshmen (13.4 ppg).
The coaching staff connections between Belmont and Lipscomb are numerous.
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander spent six seasons (2013-19) as head coach at Lipscomb. Alexander led the Bisons to the best three-year stretch of their NCAA Division I era and the first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. Lipscomb won 113 games during Alexander's tenure, including 72 over the final three campaigns. In 2019, Lipscomb won 29 games and reached the Postseason NIT Championship game.
Belmont associate head coach Brian Ayers played for Don Meyer at Lipscomb from 1989-93. Ayers coached with Alexander at Belmont from 1998-2011 and Lipscomb assistant Roger Idstrom from 2000-11.
Belmont assistant coach Sean Rutigliano spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Lipscomb on Alexander's staff. Rutigliano also spent two seasons as an assistant coach for Lennie Acuff at UAH.
Lipscomb assistant coach Roger Idstrom was a member of Belmont's staff from 2000-11.
Belmont and Lipscomb have a combined five members in the NAIA Hall of Fame (Belmont: Rick Byrd, Joe Behling; Lipscomb: Don Meyer, Philip Hutcheson, John Pierce).
The Bruins and Bisons met once in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, with Belmont claiming a 74-69 overtime victory in the 2006 Atlantic Sun Championship game in Johnson City, Tennessee. Belmont's Justin Hare ('06) scored a career-high 32 points en route to Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
The last time Belmont and Lipscomb met only once in a season was 1963-64; Belmont won 65-60.
This marks the 147th meeting between Belmont and Lipscomb. The Battle of the Boulevard series dates back to 1953, with Lipscomb holding a 75-71 series lead. Belmont holds a 24-11 series lead in the NCAA Division I era of the rivalry (2004-present). Belmont won, 73-67 and 80-75, last season. The Bruins have won 15 of the last 17 meetings in the series. Eight of the last nine meetings have been decided by nine or fewer points.
Tip-off is set for 7 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 Lipscomb Game Notes
Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 14 of the last 15 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 19 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 rankings 10 consecutive seasons (BYU, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont is one of only six NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 15 consecutive seasons (Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State, 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.
