Men's Basketball 11/27/2021 12:00:00 AM

Dayton Preview

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Sunday vs. Dayton in the ESPN Events Invitational championship.

Ben Sheppard had 25 points and six rebounds Friday vs. Iona.

What's Bruin

Belmont defeated Iona, 72-65, Friday.
Nick Muszynski had 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three bocked shots vs. Iona.
Grayson Murphy had 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and a career-high seven steals vs. Furman. The 6-3 guard went over 1,000 career points on a steal and score in the second half. Murphy is on pace to become the Ohio Valley Conference career leader in assists and steals. He has 11 assists and five steals in the ESPN Events Invitational.
Luke Smith scored a team-high 20 points vs. Furman. The 6-0 guard was named Preseason All-OVC after earning OVC All-Newcomer Team and DC Paradise Jam Most Valuable Player honors last season. Smith has 1,402 career points and 70 career double figure scoring games.
Will Richard had 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds vs. [rv/rv] Drake. He ranks among OVC leaders in scoring and rebounding.
JaCobi Wood scored a season-high 13 points vs. Furman. The 6-2 guard had 20 double figure scoring games last season, including a career-high 21 points in his debut vs. Howard. He scored nine points in a 90-second span vs. Iona.
Belmont defeated Temple, 81-70, in the 2019 NCAA Tournament First Four at UD Arena in Dayton.
Belmont's NCAA Division I era career leading scorer - Evan Bradds - grew up in Jamestown, Ohio, minutes from the University of Dayton campus. Bradds scored 1,921 career points and was a two-time OVC Player of the Year and All-America selection. Bradds currently serves a player enhancement coach with the Boston Celtics.
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander and Dayton head coach Anthony Grant have each received national coaching honors.
Belmont won an MTE last season (DC Paradise Jam)
Belmont went 26-4 last season, claiming its 12th regular season conference championship in 16 years, seventh in nine years of OVC membership. The Bruins entered Selection Sunday with the most wins in America (with Gonzaga).
Belmont returns 97 percent of its offensive production and minutes from last season. All-OVC performers Nick Muszynski and Grayson Murphy stand among the most accomplished players at their respective positions in college basketball.
Belmont, Gonzaga and Buffalo are the only three programs outside the power conferences to win NCAA Tournament games in men's and women's basketball since 2019.
Belmont and BYU were the only two programs outside the power conferences to receive Preseason AP Top 25 poll votes in men's and women's basketball.
Belmont will join the Missouri Valley Conference July 1, 2022.

This marks the first meeting between Belmont and Dayton.

Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and the ESPN app. The live play-by-play can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network. In-game updates will be available via Twitter @BelmontMBB.

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

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Players Mentioned

#2 Grayson Murphy: G; 6' 3"; Graduate Student; Independence HS

#33 Nick Muszynski: C; 6' 11"; Graduate Student; St. Charles Prep

#4 Will Richard: G; 6' 5"; Freshman; Woodward Academy

#22 Ben Sheppard: G; 6' 6"; Junior; Greater Atlanta Christian

#3 Luke Smith: G; 6' 0"; Graduate Student; The University of the South

#24 JaCobi Wood: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore; Cleveland HS

Players Mentioned

#2 Grayson Murphy
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student; Independence HS
: G

#33 Nick Muszynski
: 6' 11"; Graduate Student; St. Charles Prep
: C

#4 Will Richard
: 6' 5"; Freshman; Woodward Academy
: G

#22 Ben Sheppard
: 6' 6"; Junior; Greater Atlanta Christian
: G

#3 Luke Smith
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student; The University of the South
: G

#24 JaCobi Wood
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; Cleveland HS
: G