Tennessee Tech Preview

The Bruins defeated Jacksonville State, 63-59, Thursday. Belmont limited Jacksonville State to 38 percent shooting and outscored the Gamecocks, 42-28, in points in the paint.

Junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) had nine points and nine rebounds vs. Jacksonville State. His steal and diving assist to Caleb Hollander with 3:26 remaining Thursday gave Belmont the lead to stay. Murphy was named Lute Olson National Player of the Week and OVC co-Player of the Week Monday. The reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year ranks fifth in the OVC in rebounding (7.8 rpg), leads the league in defensive rebounding, and is on pace to threaten OVC career records in assists and steals. Since the start of 2019-20, Murphy is the only player in America with at least 300 rebounds, 250 assists and 100 steals. He ranks 10th among active NCAA career leaders in assists and 14th in steals. Murphy had 14 points, five assists and a career-high seven steals at Tennessee Tech earlier this season.

 

Junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) had 16 points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists vs. Jacksonville State. The 6-11 center has 74 career double figure scoring games and is a two-time First Team All-OVC selection. Muszynski scored a season-high 26 points vs. Southeast Missouri, and is on pace to challenge Evan Bradds' NCAA Division I era career scoring record (1,921 points). He was named to the Lute Olson Award and Lou Henson Award midseason watch lists earlier this season. Muszynski averaged 21.0 points per game on 18-for-25 shooting in two games vs. Tennessee Tech last season. Muszynski did not play at Tennessee Tech Jan. 14 due to illness.

Sophomore Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) had a career-high 25 points and 10 rebounds vs. Eastern Kentucky Feb. 11. Sheppard scored 22 points at Jacksonville State Jan. 16 and earned his second OVC Player of the Week honor Jan. 18. The 6-6 guard made 32 game appearances last season, emerging as a valuable two-way player for Belmont. 

 

Junior Luke Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) had four consecutive free throws in the final 13 seconds vs. Jacksonville State to secure the victory. Smith became the first player in Belmont's NCAA Division I era to score 100 or more points in his first five games.

The 6-0 guard leads the OVC in five statistical categories, and ranks 15th in the league in scoring (13.0 ppg).

He ranks fourth nationally in steals and 11th in 3-point field goals.

Smith was named DC Paradise Jam Most Valuable Player and Dec. 14 became the first player in nearly three years to earn OVC Player of the Week and OVC Newcomer of the Week honors the same week.

 

Freshman JaCobi Wood (Cleveland, Tenn.) had a game-high 19 points vs. Morehead State. He scored a career-high tying 21 points in 22 minutes vs. UT Martin. The dynamic playmaker has been named OVC Freshman of the Week twice, has posted 18 double figure scoring games and ranks third in the OVC in scoring among freshmen (12.1 ppg). Wood ranks 10th nationally in freshman scoring.

 

Junior Caleb Hollander (Nashville, Tenn.) had a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds vs. Jacksonville State. He scored a career-high 24 points at Austin Peay Jan. 28. The 6-8 forward is averaging 12.8 points per game over his last eight games. He scored 12 points at Tennessee Tech last season.

The Belmont bench has been highly productive of late, scoring 499 points in OVC play, including 26 vs. Morehead State. Wood, freshman Even Brauns (Iowa City, Iowa), sophomore Mitch Listau (Waunakee, Wis.), sophomore EJ Bellinger (St. Peters, Mo.), sophomore Derek Sabin (Slinger, Wis.), freshman Frank Jakubicek (Cary, Ill.) and freshman Michael Shanks (Bentonville, Ark.) have each tallied new career highs in scoring during the stretch.

Former Belmont head coach Rick Byrd served as an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech from 1980-83.

Belmont has handed out 63 assists on 87 made field goals in its last three games vs. Tennessee Tech.

This marks the 28th meeting between Belmont and Tennessee Tech. Belmont won, 88-67, Jan. 14 at Tennessee Tech.
Tennessee Tech at Belmont Game Notes

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