Box Score KISSIMMEE, Fla. - - Ben Sheppard scored a career-high 25 points as Belmont University men's basketball defeated Iona, 72-65, Friday night in the ESPN Events Invitational semifinal round.
Four starters scored by the first media timeout and JaCobi Wood made three consecutive 3-pointers in a 90-second span as Belmont built an 18-11 lead.
Sheppard highlighted a 10-0 Belmont run to increase the margin to 13, 34-21, with 7:20 left in the first half.
Iona, which defeated No. 10 Alabama Thanksgiving night as part of its 6-0 start to the season, closed the half on a 15-4 run as Belmont led 38-36 at halftime.
Five Sheppard points and a Tate Pierson 3-pointer increased the Belmont lead to nine, 52-43, with 14:37 remaining.
Walter Clayton, Jr. sparked Iona as plays on both ends of the floor gave Iona its first lead of the game, 56-55.
From there, Belmont rode strong defense in limiting Iona to four made field goals over the final 11:42.
A Muszynski conventional 3-point play with 7:20 left gave Belmont the lead to stay.
Belmont made seven free throws in the final 1:24 to secure the victory.
In addition to Sheppard's career night, Muszynski had 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.
Clayton, Jr. led Iona (6-1) with 13 points.
Belmont (5-2) will play Dayton - which defeated No. 4 Kansas - Sunday at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT in the championship.
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
