NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Saturday at Tennessee State.
The Bruins defeated Tennessee Tech, 65-62, Thursday. Sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) scored a game-high 23 points and added seven rebounds. The 6-11 center has 25 double figure scoring games this season and ranks among OVC leaders in five statistical categories, including points per game (15.1), rebounds per game (6.4) and blocked shots per game (1.5). He was named to the Lou Henson Award Midseason Watch List. Muszynski had a team-high 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots in the meeting with Tennessee State earlier this season.
The emergence of sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) has been one the top storylines in college basketball this season. The 6-3 guard has a team-high 27 double figure scoring games this season and ranks seventh in the OVC in scoring at 16.9 points per game. Kunkel has seen the second-biggest year-to-year scoring increase in the nation this season, increasing his scoring output by 14.6 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 nine career double-doubles, including 16 points and 10 rebounds at Morehead State Feb. 20. The 6-2 guard leads the nation in rebounding from the point guard position (7.4) and is second in assist-turnover ratio (3.92). Murphy also ranks top 10 nationally in total steals (81), steals per game (2.70) and total assists (188). He has multiple steals in 13 of his last 14 games, and with a career-high tying seven steals at Eastern Kentucky Feb. 22 set the Belmont NCAA Division I era single-season record for steals.
Graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) had 16 points vs. Tennessee Tech. The 6-7 forward ranks among OVC leaders in scoring (12.4), field goal percentage (.500), 3-point field goal percentage (.399) 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 34 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 29 game appearances, including 10 points and three rebounds at Eastern Kentucky.
Sophomore Tate Pierson (Brentwood, Tenn.) has provided a steady production off the bench in recent weeks. The 6-6 guard features a 64 percent effective field goal percentage and has made at least one 3-point field goal in seven of his last eight games.
Junior Nick Hopkins (Fayetteville, Tenn.) scored 36 points over his last five games. The 6-0 guard ranks among OVC active leaders in career 3-point field goals (147).
The Bruins currently rank first in the Ohio Valley Conference in 13 statistical categories, including scoring offense (80.6), 3-point field goals per game (10.0) and defensive rebounds per game (28.53). Belmont is top 25 nationally in 12 statistical categories, including first in assists per game (18.7) and third in assist-turnover ratio (1.57).
Tennessee State head coach Brian Collins is a 2006 Belmont graduate, playing point guard for former Belmont head coach Rick Byrd from 2002-06. Collins helped Belmont to the 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Belmont head coach Casey Alexander was an assistant for Byrd, and coached Collins during his college career.
Belmont made an NCAA Division I era single-game record of 20 3-point field goals in a 84-59 victory over Tennessee State at the Curb Event Center, Feb. 24, 2018.
Former All-OVC players Ian Clark of Belmont and Robert Covington of Tennessee State played against each other before making their way to the NBA; Clark earned an NBA Championship ring with the Golden State Warriors while Covington is a member of the Houston Rockets.
2019 graduate and Cleveland Cavaliers' rookie Dylan Windler averaged 25.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in his final three games vs. Tennessee State.
This marks the 35th meeting between Belmont and Tennessee State. The Bruins won Feb. 13 at the Curb Event Center.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 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.
With a victory, Belmont would secure an 11th regular season conference championship in the last 15 years - sixth since joining the Ohio Valley Conference in 2013. Already ensured of a double bye in the OVC Tournament, Belmont would secure the No. 1 seed with a victory and a Murray State victory over Austin Peay.
Belmont at Tennessee State 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.
