Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind 23 points from Ben Sheppard, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Chattanooga, 76-68, Wednesday from the Curb Event Center.
In a meeting of two of the nation's top programs outside the power conferences, Belmont earned a valuable victory over a Chattanooga program ranked No. 31 in the NCAA NET rankings and picked to win the Southern Conference.
After Silvio De Sousa scored Chattanooga's first four points, Sheppard spearheaded an 8-0 Belmont reply as the hosts methodically claimed control.
With active, unified defense, Belmont limited Chattanooga to two made field goals over a seven-minute stretch of the first half.
A Grayson Murphy score punctuated a 14-2 run and gave Belmont a 34-17 lead with 3:50 left in the first half.
JaCobi Wood found Nick Muszynski for a slam to close the half as Belmont led 39-23 at halftime.
Belmont shot 64 percent (16-of-25) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, against a Chattanooga team which entered among national leaders in field goal percentage defense.
Furthermore, Belmont limited Chattanooga to 8-of-27 shooting in the first half, while forcing seven turnovers.
Four different Bruins scored to open the second half - including strong bench contributions from Even Brauns and Michael Shanks - but elevated Chattanooga defense led by Malachi Smith and uncharacteristic Belmont turnovers kept the Bruins from completely breaking free.
A De Sousa basket got Chattanooga within 53-45 with 10:15 left.
Determined baskets from Muszynski and Sheppard pushed the Belmont lead back to 12.
Chattanooga would get as close as 64-57 with 5:17 left on a KC Hankton 3-pointer, but Belmont responded with a Luke Smith 3-pointer and four Sheppard points.
All told, Belmont shot 60 percent (28-of-47) from the field - including 8-of-20 from 3-point distance.
Belmont outrebounded Chattanooga, 28-26.
In addition to Sheppard, Smith scored 16 points, while Muszynski had 14 points and seven rebounds.
Murphy had six points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Malachi Smith led Chattanooga (9-2) with 27 points.
Belmont's 76 points represents the most scored against Chattanooga this season; the Mocs had only allowed one previous opponent to score over 70 points.
Belmont (9-3) returns to game action Saturday vs. Bethel (Ind.).
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
