NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Saturday at Eastern Kentucky.
The Bruins defeated Morehead State, 80-67, Thursday. Sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) scored a team-high 16 points. The 6-3 guard has a team-high 26 double figure scoring games this season and ranks seventh in the OVC in scoring at 17.0 points per game. Kunkel has seen the second-biggest year-to-year scoring increase in the nation this season, increasing his scoring output by 14.7 points per game. He had a career-high 35 points in Belmont's victory at Boston College.
Sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) had 11 points at Morehead State. The 6-11 center has 24 double figure scoring games this season and ranks among OVC leaders in five statistical categories, including points per game (15.3), rebounds per game (6.5) and blocked shots per game (1.6). He was named to the Lou Henson Award Midseason Watch List. Muszynski had 16 points and eight rebounds in the meeting with Eastern Kentucky earlier this season.
Sophomore Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) has been one of the most impactful players in the OVC this season. Murphy has nine career double-doubles, including 16 points and 10 rebounds at Morehead State Thursday. The 6-2 guard leads the nation in rebounding from the point guard position (7.6) and is second in assist-turnover ratio (4.17). Murphy also ranks top 10 nationally in total steals (72), steals per game (2.57) and total assists (175). He has multiple steals in 11 of his last 12 games.
Graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) ranks among OVC leaders in scoring (12.2), 3-point field goal percentage (.386) and 3-point field goals per game (1.8).
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 32 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 26 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. Hollander scored a career-high 22 points vs. Morehead State last season (1/10/19).
Junior Nick Hopkins (Fayetteville, Tenn.) scored 27 points over his last three games. The 6-0 guard ranks among OVC active leaders in career 3-point field goals (144).
The Bruins currently rank first in the Ohio Valley Conference in 12 statistical categories, including scoring offense (81.1), 3-point field goals per game (10.0) and defensive rebounds per game (28.86). Belmont is top 25 nationally in 10 statistical categories, including first in assists per game (18.8) and second in assist-turnover ratio (1.59).
Belmont guard Dylan Windler ('19) and Eastern Kentucky forward Nick Mayo ('19) stand as two of the most outstanding players in OVC history. The duo rank among all-time leaders in points and rebounds. Windler and Mayo each received 2019 OVC Preseason Player of the Year accolades from various college basketball publications.
Numerous records were set in the Jan. 12, 2019 meeting between Belmont and Eastern Kentucky, including most combined points in Curb Event Center history (202) and most points scored by Belmont in a regulation game of the NCAA Division I era (109).
Former Belmont standout and 2014 OVC Player of the Year J.J. Mann played at Hargrave Military Academy, where he was coached by Eastern Kentucky head coach A.W. Hamilton.
Two-time Belmont All-America forward Evan Bradds ('17) has a younger brother, Ethan, who is on the football team at Eastern Kentucky. Ethan, a 6-5, 242-pound junior tight end. Evan currently serves as a video coordinator on Brad Stevens' coaching staff with the Boston Celtics.
This marks the 20th meeting between Belmont and Eastern Kentucky. The Bruins won Jan. 16 at the Curb Event Center.
Tip-off is set for 6 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 Eastern Kentucky 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.
