Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - - Graduate student Tyler Scanlon (Centreville, Va.) made a reverse layin with 3.8 seconds left as Belmont University men's basketball defeated Murray State, 76-75, Saturday to win the OVC Championship an earn an automatic bid to the 2020 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
Belmont will be making its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006.
Belmont and Murray State met for the fifth time in the Bruins' eight-year history in the Ohio Valley Conference, and one of college basketball's top rivalries once again delivered high drama and a heartstopping finish as neither team led by more than two possessions over the final 11 minutes of the game.
Sophomore Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio), who missed the 2019 OVC Championship game due to injury, delivered his finest performance in a Belmont uniform with 25 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots en route to OVC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
Muszynski powered Belmont to a 25-17 lead with 6:33 left in the first half.
However, moments later, All-OVC point guard Grayson Murphy would pick up his second personal foul, forcing him to the sidelines for the remainder of the half.
Murray State responded with 14-3 run, taking a 31-28 lead on Tevin Brown's conventional 3-point play.
But a Muszynski basket and a baseline 3-pointer from sophomore Adam Kunkel (Hebron, Ky.) gave Belmont a 33-32 halftime lead.
Belmont shot 47 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, while holding the talented Murray State duo of Brown and KJ Williams to eight first-half points combined.
The second half began inauspiciously for Belmont as baskets from Demond Robinson, Anthony Smith and Brown gave Murray State a 39-33 lead with 18:19 remaining.
Murphy set up Kunkel then scored a conventional 3-point play himself to get Belmont back within 41-39.
Scanlon then buried consecutive wing 3-pointers and delivered inside to push Belmont back ahead, 47-43, with 15:41 left.
After Murray State closed within 51-50, a Scanlon driving circus shot along with scores from Muszynski and Murphy gave Belmont a 57-50 advantage with 11:30 remaining.
Murphy and senior Michael Benkert (Greenwood, Ind.) continued the momentum with scores at the rim before Muszynski was whistled for his fourth personal foul with 9:03 remaining, contesting a Jaiveon Eaves drive.
It would serve as a significant turning point in the game, as Muszynski's consistent inside scoring was relegated to the bench for an extended period of time.
Murray State would take advantage, as an acrobatic Brown 3-pointer and a Smith transition slam gave Murray State a 65-63 lead with 7:08 left.
Kunkel would tie the score at 65 on a determined drive, before baskets from Eaves and Smith upped the Murray State edge to four, 69-65, with 4:08 remaining.
Kunkel sank two clutch free throws following the under four media timeout, and Scanlon followed with a twisting drive to tie the score at 69 with 3:30 left.
Following one Robinson free throw, Muszynski would return to play at the 3:09 mark.
However, after an empty offensive possession, Belmont shouldered a baseline slam and conventional 3-point play from Brown as the lead went back to four, 73-69, with 2:49 to go.
That is when Muszynski reasserted his presence inside; first, he denied Williams at the rim with a blocked shot, then scored from the left block to cut the deficit in half.
After a defensive stop, Muszynski converted a conventional 3-point play from the right block to put Belmont ahead, 74-73 with 1:26 remaining.
Scanlon proceeded to steal the ball from Smith as he elevated on a jump hook, giving Belmont the lead and possession with under one minute to play.
Looking to extend the lead, Belmont worked Muszynski free for a diagonal lob feed, but Murphy's entry pass grazed the rim and went to Murray State on the loose ball.
Murray State pushed the ball into the frontcourt, but DaQuan Smith's 3-pointer with 35 seconds rimmed off and Benkert secured the rebound.
Belmont calmly found Kunkel, who was fouled by Eaves with 22 seconds remaining.
However, Kunkel's front-end of the one-and-one free throws whirlpooled out, and Murray State gained possession with the shot clock off.
Following a timeout, Murray State turned to Brown, who would lose his balance battling Benkert on a behind-the-back dribble. As Brown fell, Benkert would be whistled for a tripping foul near the logo with 11 seconds left.
Brown made two free throws to give Murray State a 75-74 lead.
After Belmont called timeout in the frontcourt to set up a final play, Murray State defended the action well and forced Belmont to call its final timeout.
From there, Belmont freed Kunkel, who drove the left wing and found Scanlon cutting backdoor for a go-ahead reverse layin with 3.8 seconds remaining.
Murray State quickly inbounded the basketball, but as Brown approached midcourt, Murray State called timeout with 2.0 seconds left.
The Racers were awarded possession in the backcourt, roughly 65 feet from their basket.
Belmont defended Murray State's final action well, and Eaves' desperation shot did not get off cleanly.
As the horn sounded, Belmont erupted in pure jubilation.
All told, Belmont shot 47 percent (30-for-64) from the field and outrebounded Murray State, 35-33.
Muszynski led four Bruins in double figures with 25 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
Scanlon had 17 points, four rebounds and two steals, while Kunkel had 16 points and five assists.
Murphy added 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Brown led Murray State (23-9) with 17 points.
Muszynski, Kunkel and Murphy were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Belmont (26-7) has won 12 consecutive games and will learn its NCAA Tournament seed, opponent and game site on Selection Sunday, March 15.
