Box Score MURRAY, Ky. - - A free throw from sophomore Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) with 13 seconds remaining gave Belmont University men's basketball a 72-71 victory over Murray State Saturday.
Junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) would record his fifth blocked shot of the game in the final sequence, blocking a shot attempt from Tevin Brown with four seconds left to secure the victory.
The Belmont-Murray State series has quickly become one of the most compelling in college basketball, featuring high-level competition, emotion and drama every meeting.
Early 3-pointers from sophomore Derek Sabin (Slinger, Wis.) and junior Caleb Hollander (Nashville, Tenn.) gave Belmont a 12-11 lead eight and a half minutes in.
Sheppard and junior Luke Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) battled early foul trouble and spent much of the first half on the bench.
After a slam from freshman Even Brauns (Iowa City, Iowa), Murray State took a 22-15 lead on a Demond Robinson basket.
Belmont answered with a 10-0 run, as transition plays from junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.), freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.) and Hollander put Belmont back on top.
KJ Williams would score 12 points in the final 4:49 of the first half as Murray State led 37-32 at halftime.
Belmont shot 48 percent (12-of-25) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 4-of-10 from 3-point distance.
A Smith 3-pointer and a Muszynski basket tied the score at 37 with 19:03 remaining.
After a series of Belmont defensive stops, Murray State got a lift on a baseline 3-pointer from Dionte Bostick that bounced high off the rim and fell through, as it sparked a 7-0 run.
A Brauns post score and consecutive 3-pointers from Wood and Smith got Belmont within 46-45 with 14:28 left.
Momentum swung back in Murray State's favor, as Devin Gilmore gave the hosts a 55-45 lead with 11:44 to go.
From there, Belmont established Muszynski in the paint, as he scored, drew fouls or set up teammates on successive possessions.
Two Sheppard free throws and a Hollander 3-pointer trimmed the margin to four, 60-56, with 7:19 left.
Another clutch Wood 3-pointer and two straight fearless drives from Murphy gave Belmont a 63-61 lead with 5:25 remaining.
After Williams tied the score, Sheppard made a baseline 3-pointer to give Belmont a 66-63 advantage with 3:20 to go.
In a game which featured 14 ties and eight lead changes, both teams made one impressive play after another.
Two Willams free throws got Murray State within one point before Murphy found Hollander along the baseline to increase the Belmont lead back to three.
Brown would then sink a deep, contested baseline 3-pointer to tie the score at 68 with 2:10 left.
After a Justice Hill steal and a Brown miss inside, Williams would preserve the Murray State possession and find Brown for a 3-pointer to Murray State a 71-68 lead with 1:30 remaining.
Wood narrowly rimmed out a 3-point attempt to tie, giving Murray State possession with under one minute to play.
DaQuan Smith missed a 3-pointer and Murphy would secure the Belmont rebound.
A quick outlet pass freed Smith in transition, who proceeded to score a twisting, off-balance bank shot with 42 seconds left as Hill fouled him.
The enormous, conventional 3-point play tied the score at 71.
Murray State worked the ball into the frontcourt, but as Brown decided between a pass, drive or shot on the left wing, Murphy snuck in and stole the ball.
With the shot clock off, many anticipated Belmont holding for the final shot of regulation.
However, as Murphy passed ahead to Smith, Belmont elected to attack for a transition score.
Smith connected with Sheppard at full speed and Carter would be called for a foul on the layin attempt with 13 seconds left.
Sheppard would make the second of two free throws to give Belmont a 72-71 lead.
Murray State would call timeout in the frontcourt prior to the final sequence.
Hill found Brown on the right wing, who would pump fake and drive the right elbow before elevating for a short jump shot.
But Muszynski was well-positioned, blocked the shot, and Belmont secured possession near midcourt as the horn sounded.
The Belmont players on the court and on the bench celebrated the emotional, hard-earned victory.
All told, Belmont shot 51 percent (26-of-51) from the field - including 10-of-24 from 3-point distance.
Belmont scored 22 points off 14 Murray State turnovers.
Murphy led five Bruins in double figures with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Wood had 13 points and five assists while Muszynski delivered 12 points, five rebounds and a season-high five blocked shots.
Hollander had 11 and Smith added 10.
Williams led Murray State (7-8, 4-6 OVC) with 18 points.
Belmont has won 30 of its last 31 games and 24 consecutive conference games.
Belmont has also won an NCAA-best 18 consecutive road/neutral games.
Belmont (18-1, 12-0 OVC) returns to game action Thursday at Eastern Illinois.
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
