Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - - Behind 25 points and six rebounds from Nick Muszynski, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Kennesaw State, 97-78, Friday.
Muszynski added two blocked shots as Belmont led from the outset.
The Bruins roared from the opening tip, as a Will Richard dunk gave Belmont a 9-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.
After Kennesaw State got within 23-22, Luke Smith highlighted an 8-0 Belmont run to increase the margin to 31-22.
Belmont led 48-39 at halftime.
Terrell Burden made the score 50-41 with 18:17 remaining before Michael Shanks scored 13 consecutive points over a three-and-a-half minute span to give Belmont control.
Nine more Muszynski points and a Ben Sheppard 3-pointer increased the Belmont lead to 21, 79-58, with 8:25 left.
Belmont shot 53 percent (38-of-72) from the field - including 10-of-25 from 3-point distance.
Muszynski led four Bruins in double figures; Richard had a career-high 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Shanks scored a career-high 16 points.
Sheppard has 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.
11 Bruins scored.
Burden led Kennesaw State (2-3) with 19 points.
Belmont (3-1) returns to game action Monday at [rv/rv] LSU.
Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 14 of the last 16 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 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 11 consecutive seasons (BYU, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont is one of only four NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 16 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 18 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
