Box Score CHARLESTON, Ill. - - Belmont University men's basketball defeated Eastern Illinois, 90-56, Monday night.
Grayson Murphy handed out five assists to become the Ohio Valley Conference all-time career assist leader.
Murphy's total of 702 assists eclipsed the standard of Eastern Kentucky's Bruce Jones, who held the record for 41 years.
A Murphy assist to Nick Muszynski with 17:20 left broke the record.
Belmont held Eastern Illinois scoreless for nearly seven minutes during the first half, as six different Bruins scored during a decisive 20-0 run.
Five straight points from Luke Smith made the score 26-6 midway through the first half.
Belmont scored 16 points off eight Eastern Illinois turnovers in the opening 20 minutes, leading 45-23 at halftime.
Muszynski led an 11-1 Belmont run to open the second half as the lead increased to 32, 56-24, with 16:40 left.
Belmont got strong bench contributions from JaCobi Wood, Michael Shanks, EJ Bellinger and Tate Pierson as each player who saw action scored at least four points.
All told, Belmont shot 49 percent (33-of-67) from the field and made 14 3-point field goals.
Belmont handed out 27 assists on 33 made field goals and created 12 steals.
Ben Sheppard led five Bruins in double figures with 15 points.
Will Richard had 13 points, five rebounds and six assists, while Wood had 13 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
Bellinger scored a career-high 12 points.
Smith scored 11.
Paul Bizimana led Eastern Illinois (2-16, 0-6 OVC) with 20 points.
Belmont (15-5, 5-2 OVC) returns to game action Thursday at Austin Peay.
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
