Box Score KISSIMMEE, Fla. - - Behind a career-high 31 points from Nick Muszynski, Belmont University men's basketball defeated [rv/rv] Drake, 74-69, Thanksgiving night in the first round of the ESPN Events Invitational from HP Field House.
Muszynski went 12-of-17 from the field and added nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
In a meeting of two programs which went a combined 52-9 last season, Belmont asserted itself on both ends of the floor from the opening tip.
Muszynski and Ben Sheppard combined to score 20 of Belmont's first 24 points as Belmont built a six point lead.
A sprint and score from Michael Shanks and a driving layin from Grayson Murphy extended the lead to 12, 36-24, with 4:31 left in the first half.
Roman Penn capped a 9-2 Drake response to trim the margin to five.
Belmont led 40-33 at halftime.
Muszynski had 19 first-half points.
A Muszynski post score and a determined basket from Sheppard increased the margin to 11, 44-33, with 19:10 left.
But Drake, which started last season 18-0 and returned five senior starters from an NCAA Tournament team receiving national Top 25 poll votes, got consecutive 3-point field goals from Tucker DeVries and Tremell Murphy to tie the score at 51 with 12:20 remaining.
After a Grayson Murphy score, Drake took a 55-54 lead on a Garrett Sturtz basket with 10:39 remaining - the Bulldogs' first lead since 6-4.
From there, Belmont answered with purpose and resolve.
A Sheppard basket and a 3-pointer from Luke Smith gave Belmont a 61-59 lead with 6:32 remaining.
After Sturtz put Drake back on top with 4:58 to go, Belmont held the Bulldogs scoreless for the next four minutes.
A Smith drive, a Will Richard 3-pointer and a Muszynski putback basket highlighted the 10-0 run to give Belmont a 71-62 lead with 58 seconds remaining.
Though Drake got as close as 72-69, Sheppard's free throws with six seconds remaining provided the final margin.
In addition to Muszynski's career night, Sheppard had 17 while Richard had 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Tremell Murphy led Drake (3-1) with 18 points.
Belmont (4-2) advances to the semifinal round of the ESPN Events Invitational where it will play Iona.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT Friday.
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
