Eastern Illinois Preview

The Bruins defeated Murray State, 72-71, Jan. 30.

 

Junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) had 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and a career-high five blocked shots, the final of which secured the victory. The 6-11 center has 69 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.

Junior Grayson Murphy (Franklin, Tenn.) had 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals at Murray State. The reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year ranks fifth in the OVC in rebounding (7.6 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 13th among active NCAA career leaders in assists and 14th in steals. Murphy had nine rebounds and six assists vs. Eastern Illinois Jan. 21.

 

Sophomore Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) had six points, five rebounds and the eventual game-winning free throw at Murray State. Sheppard scored a career-high 22 points at Jacksonville State 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 10 points and a game-tying 3-point play with 42 seconds remaining at Murray State. 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 seven statistical categories, and ranks 10th in the league in scoring (14.2 ppg).

He ranks sixth nationally in steals and eighth 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 13 points and five assists at Murray 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 15 double figure scoring games and ranks second in the OVC in scoring among freshmen (12.8 ppg). Wood ranks seventh nationally in freshman scoring.

 

Junior Caleb Hollander (Nashville, Tenn.) scored a career-high 24 points at Austin Peay Jan. 28. The 6-8 forward has scored in double figures in three consecutive games.

The Belmont bench has been highly productive of late, scoring 360 points in OVC play. Wood, freshman Even Brauns (Iowa City, Iowa), sophomore EJ Bellinger (St. Peters, Mo.), sophomore Derek Sabin (Slinger, Wis.) and freshman Michael Shanks (Bentonville, Ark.) have each tallied new career highs in scoring during the stretch.

Belmont at Eastern Illinois 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