Men's Basketball 1/5/2022 12:00:00 AM

Southeast Missouri Preview

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to action Thursday vs. Southeast Missouri.

Luke Smith led six Bruins in double figures with 21 points Dec. 18.

What's Bruin

Belmont defeated Bethel (Ind.), 115-86, Dec. 18.
Grayson Murphy ranks fourth in assists and 10th in steals among all active players in college basketball. Murphy had a season-high nine assists vs. Bethel (Ind.). The 6-3 guard went over 1,000 career points on a steal and score in the second half vs. Furman. Murphy is on pace to become the Ohio Valley Conference career leader in assists and steals. Murphy has 30 assists and 26 rebounds in his last four games vs. Southeast Missouri.
Luke Smith has scored in double figures in four of his last five games. The 6-0 guard was named Preseason All-OVC after earning OVC All-Newcomer Team and DC Paradise Jam Most Valuable Player honors last season. Smith had a team-high 20 points vs. Furman. He ranks among OVC leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Nick Muszynski has 11 double figure scoring games this season. The 6-11 center, named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lou Henson Award watch lists, averaged 24.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game in the ESPN Events Invitational in earning All-Tournament Team honors. With 1,582 points, Muszynski is on pace to challenge Evan Bradds' NCAA Division I era career scoring record (1,921 points). Muszynski is averaging 19.3 points per game in four career games vs. Southeast Missouri. This includes a freshman season-high of 27 points (1/31/19) and 26 points last season (1/7/21).
Ben Sheppard delivered 18 points and five rebounds vs. Bethel (Ind.). He scored a career-high 25 points vs. Iona. Sheppard scored in double figures in each of Belmont's first 10 games. The 6-6 guard has emerged as Belmont's top two-way player.
Will Richard had 19 points, four rebounds, a career-high seven assists and three steals vs. Bethel (Ind.). He recorded 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds vs. Drake, becoming one of the fastest Belmont players to post a double-double. Richard ranks among OVC freshmen leaders in scoring and rebounding.
JaCobi Wood scored 11 points vs. Bethel (Ind.) and had nine points in a 90-second span vs. Iona. The 6-2 guard had 20 double figure scoring games last season, including a career-high 21 points in his debut vs. Howard.
Even Brauns scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds vs. Bethel (Ind.).
Amanze Egekeze ('18) went 7-for-7 from the field, 3-for-3 from 3-point distance, and 4-for-4 from the free throw line in his 21-point effort vs. Southeast Missouri as a senior. Egekeze became the first Bruin to go perfect from the field (min. seven FGA) and free throw line in a game since Evan Bradds in his final game at the Curb Event Center (vs. Tennessee State, 2/25/17).
Belmont went 26-4 last season, claiming its 12th regular season conference championship in 16 years, seventh in nine years of OVC membership. The Bruins entered Selection Sunday with the most wins in America (with Gonzaga).
Belmont returns 97 percent of its offensive production and minutes from last season. All-OVC performers Nick Muszynski and Grayson Murphy stand among the most accomplished players at their respective positions in college basketball.
Belmont, Gonzaga and Buffalo are the only three programs outside the power conferences to win NCAA Tournament games in men's and women's basketball since 2019.
Belmont and BYU were the only two programs outside the power conferences to receive Preseason AP Top 25 poll votes in men's and women's basketball.
Belmont will join the Missouri Valley Conference July 1, 2022.

This marks the 11th meeting between Belmont and Southeast Missouri. Belmont won, 77-66, last season at the Curb Event Center.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. The live play-by-play of Steve Layman can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network. In-game updates will be available via Twitter @BelmontMBB.

Belmont season tickets, which include the entire men's and women's basketball home schedule, are on sale now at BelmontBruins.com/Tickets, in addition to flex packs, single-game tickets and group experiences. Fans can also call or text 615.460.BALL (2255).

To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.

Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

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

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Players Mentioned

#0 Even Brauns: C; 6' 9"; Sophomore; Iowa City West HS

#2 Grayson Murphy: G; 6' 3"; Graduate Student; Independence HS

#33 Nick Muszynski: C; 6' 11"; Graduate Student; St. Charles Prep

#4 Will Richard: G; 6' 5"; Freshman; Woodward Academy

#22 Ben Sheppard: G; 6' 6"; Junior; Greater Atlanta Christian

#3 Luke Smith: G; 6' 0"; Graduate Student; The University of the South

#24 JaCobi Wood: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore; Cleveland HS

Players Mentioned

#0 Even Brauns
: 6' 9"; Sophomore; Iowa City West HS
: C

#2 Grayson Murphy
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student; Independence HS
: G

#33 Nick Muszynski
: 6' 11"; Graduate Student; St. Charles Prep
: C

#4 Will Richard
: 6' 5"; Freshman; Woodward Academy
: G

#22 Ben Sheppard
: 6' 6"; Junior; Greater Atlanta Christian
: G

#3 Luke Smith
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student; The University of the South
: G

#24 JaCobi Wood
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; Cleveland HS
: G