SIU Edwardsville Preview

The Bruins defeated Eastern Illinois, 89-61, Thursday. Belmont handed out 26 assists on 35 made field goals and scored 44 points in the paint.

 

Junior Nick Muszynski (Pickerington, Ohio) had 11 points, six rebounds and a season-high five assists at Eastern Illinois. The 6-11 center has 70 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 seven rebounds, six assists and three steals at Eastern Illinois. The reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year ranks sixth 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 11th among active NCAA career leaders in assists and 14th in steals. Murphy had 14 points, six assists and four steals vs. SIU Edwardsville Jan. 23.

 

Sophomore Ben Sheppard (Atlanta, Ga.) had 14 points at Eastern Illinois. 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.) hd 11 points, four assists and three steals at Eastern Illinois. 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 six statistical categories, and ranks 12th in the league in scoring (14.0 ppg).

He ranks sixth nationally in steals and seventh 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 third in the OVC in scoring among freshmen (12.3 ppg). Wood ranks ninth nationally in freshman scoring.

 

Junior Caleb Hollander (Nashville, Tenn.) had 12 poins and three assists at Eastern Illinois. He scored a career-high 24 points at Austin Peay Jan. 28. The 6-8 forward has scored in double figures in four consecutive games.

The Belmont bench has been highly productive of late, scoring 399 points in OVC play, including 39 at Eastern Illinois. Wood, freshman Even Brauns (Iowa City, Iowa), sophomore Mitch Listau (Waunakee, Wis.), 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.

2012 Belmont graduate Drew Hanlen is a native of St. Louis. As CEO of Pure Sweat Basketball, Hanlen has become one of the most respected player development consultants and strategic skills coaches in the NBA. His clients include Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Zach LaVine, Bradley Beal, RJ Barrett, Kelly Oubre, Jordan Clarkson and former teammate and Belmont All-American Ian Clark ('13).