Box Score
MARTIN, Tenn. - - Behind 21 points from sophomore Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.), Belmont University men's basketball defeated UT Martin, 90-69, Saturday.
Sheppard, who tied his career-high in points set earlier this week in victory over Murray State, went 9-for-14 from the field and added seven rebounds and a career-high six steals.
Sheppard was in double figures six minutes into the game as Belmont jumped out to a 20-6 lead.
Junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) had his typical profound impact on the game with hustle rebounds and timely passes as strong defense fueled transition offense.
Five points from sophomore EJ Bellinger (St. Peters, Mo.) and a basket from freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.) increased the Belmont lead to 34-15 with 4:01 left in the first half.
Belmont led 44-24 at halftime.
Belmont shot 62 percent (16-for-26) from the field in the opening 20 minutes while limiting UT Martin to five first-half field goals.
A post score from freshman Frank Jakubicek (Cary, Ill.) extended the lead to 57-29 with 14:49 remaining.
All told, Belmont shot 60 percent (34-for-57) from the field - including 11-for-25 from 3-point distance. The Bruins handed out a season-high 27 assists on 34 made field goals and scored 46 points in the paint. Belmont recorded 46 bench points.
Wood added 17 points while junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) had 13.
Freshman Even Brauns (Iowa City, Iowa) had nine points and five rebounds.
Bellinger added a career-high six assists.
Cameron Holden led UT Martin (3-4, 1-2 OVC) with 16 points.
Belmont has won 22 of its last 23 games.
Belmont (10-1, 4-0 OVC) returns to game action Thursday, Jan. 7 vs. Southeast Missouri.
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
