NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Saturday vs. Jacksonville State.
The Bruins defeated Tennessee State, 74-51, Thursday. Sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) scored a game-high 21 points. The 6-11 center has 22 double figure scoring games this season and ranks among OVC leaders in five statistical categories, including points per game (15.4), rebounds per game (6.5) and blocked shots per game (1.6). He was named to the Lou Henson Award Midseason Watch List. Muszynski scored Belmont's first 12 points in the meeting with Jacksonville State earlier this season.
Sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) scored 11 points Thursday. The 6-3 guard has a team-high 24 double figure scoring games this season and ranks seventh in the OVC in scoring at 16.7 points per game. Kunkel has seen the second-biggest year-to-year scoring increase in the nation this season, increasing his scoring output by 14.4 points per game. He had a career-high 35 points in Belmont's victory at Boston College.
Sophomore Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) has been one of the most impactful players in the OVC this season. Murphy has eight career double-doubles, including five this season. The 6-2 guard leads the nation in rebounding from the point guard position (7.6) and is second in assist-turnover ratio (3.96). Murphy also ranks top 10 nationally in total steals (67), steals per game (2.58) and total assists (161). He has multiple steals in nine of his last 10 games.
Graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) has recorded double figures in 14 of his last 16 games, and ranks among OVC leaders in scoring (12.7), 3-point field goal percentage (.400) and 3-point field goals per game (1.9).
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 30 consecutive starts for the Bruins.
Freshman Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) had a career-high three steals vs. Murray State Feb. 6. The 6-6 guard has made 25 game appearances, including 10 points and three rebounds at Jacksonville State.
Sophomore Caleb Hollander (Nashville, Tenn.) has provided a huge lift off the bench in recent weeks. The 6-8 forward has five double figure scoring games and had a season-high 14 points vs. Austin Peay.
Junior Nick Hopkins (Fayetteville, Tenn.) scored six points Thursday. The 6-0 guard ranks among OVC active leaders in career 3-point field goals (139).
The Bruins currently rank first in the Ohio Valley Conference in 11 statistical categories, including scoring offense (80.4), 3-point field goals per game (10.0) and defensive rebounds per game (29.08). Belmont is top 25 nationally in 10 statistical categories, including first in assists per game (18.7) and third in assist-turnover ratio (1.54).
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).
This marks the 22nd meeting between Belmont and Jacksonville State. Belmont won at Jacksonville State, 78-64, Feb. 1.
Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center. 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.
Jacksonville State 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 seven NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 15 consecutive seasons (BYU, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Louisville, 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.
