Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) recorded a triple-double as Belmont University men's basketball defeated Morehead State, 73-58, Saturday.
Murphy had 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in registering the first triple-double of Belmont's NCAA Division I era.
Belmont limited Morehead State to one field goal in the first five minutes, as six points from junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) gave Belmont a 10-2 lead.
Two Murphy baskets and another post score from Muszynski increased the Belmont lead to 18-8 seven and a half minutes in.
Freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.) hit consecutive 3-pointers to keep Belmont ahead before KJ Hunt tied the game at 27.
Murphy sparked a key 16-3 run to end the first half, scoring or assisting on 14 of the 16 points, as his offensive rebound putback basket gave Belmont a 43-30 lead at halftime.
Belmont shot 53 percent (18-of-34) from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
Belmont outrebounded Morehead State - which entered play with a +8.5 rebounding margin in conference games - 24-15 in the first half and limited the Eagles to three second chance points.
Five points from junior Caleb Hollander (Nashville, Tenn.) and a 3-pointer from junior Luke Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) gave Belmont a 51-32 lead with 16:35 remaining.
Morehead State closed within 55-47 on a Devon Cooper basket before Muszynski answered with a post score.
Wood delivered consecutive determined drives as Murphy capped an 8-0 Belmont run with a coast-to-coast score to extend the margin to 16, 65-49, with 4:01 left.
All told, Belmont shot 48 percent (29-of-61) from the field.
The Bruins outscored Morehead State, 44-26, in points in the paint, while limiting the Eagles to 33 percent shooting.
Wood led four Bruins in double figures with 19 points. Muszynski had 13 points, eight rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals. Smith had 10.
Ta'lon Cooper led Morehead State (16-7, 13-3 OVC) with 16 points.
Murphy posted the 11th triple-double in NCAA Division I men's basketball this season and became the 15th player in Ohio Valley Conference history to record a triple-double.
The game marked the third time in the last 25 seasons two teams riding win streaks of at least 12 games met in the regular season.
Belmont has won 19 consecutive games, 34 of its last 35 games and 28 consecutive conference games (including an OVC-record 26 consecutive regular season conference games).
Belmont has also won an NCAA-best 20 consecutive road/neutral games.
Belmont (22-1, 16-0 OVC) returns to game action Thursday vs. Jacksonville State.
Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 14 of the last 15 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 19 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 10 consecutive seasons (BYU, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont is one of only six NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 15 consecutive seasons (Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State, San Diego State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 17 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
