Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind active defense and balanced offense, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Tennessee Tech, 88-67, Thursday.
Fueled by the all-court play of junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.), the Bruins held Tennessee Tech to 28 percent shooting and forced 13 turnovers in leading 43-21 at halftime.
Sophomore Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) and junior Luke Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) combined on seven of Belmont's 12 made 3-point field goals.
A 3-pointer from sophomore Mitch Listau (Waunakee, Wis.) gave Belmont a 72-43 lead with 7:43 left.
Belmont handed out 22 assists on 30 made field goals and outscored Tennessee Tech, 38-24, in points in the paint.
Sheppard led four Bruins in double figures with 15 points. Smith had 14.
Murphy had 14 points, five assists and a career-high seven steals.
Freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.) had 10.
Shandon Goldman led Tennessee Tech (1-13, 1-6 OVC) with 19 points.
Belmont has won 25 of its last 26 games.
Belmont (13-1, 7-0 OVC) returns to game action Saturday at Jacksonville State.
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
