Men's Basketball Hosts Middle Tennessee Saturday

Belmont vs. Middle Tennessee
Saturday, Dec. 10 | 4 p.m. CT
Curb Event Center | Nashville, Tenn.
ESPN+ | Belmont Bruins Radio on iHeartRadio | Live Stats | Game Notes (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Saturday vs. Middle Tennessee.

The Bruins defeated Trevecca Nazarene, 83-53, Tuesday.
 
Senior Ben Sheppard led three Bruins in double figures with 16 points. Sheppard, who ranks among MVC leaders in seven statistical categories including fourth in scoring (19.4 ppg) and third in assists per game (4.0), is skyrocketing up the Bruins' NCAA Division I era career scoring list. He has 1,107 career points.
 
Senior EJ Bellinger is averaging double figure scoring over his last three games, including a career-high 14 points vs. Valparaiso.
 
Freshman Cade Tyson has made an instant impact on both ends of the floor for the Bruins, currently leading the MVC in scoring among freshmen (13.7 ppg). Tyson scored a season-high 18 points vs. Ohio and had 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals vs. Trevecca Nazarene.
 
Fellow freshman Ja'Kobi Gillespie ranks second in the MVC in steals and ranks fifth in assists. Gillespie had 10 points Tuesday.

Graduate student Drew Friberg is third on the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game. He scored a career-high 24 points at Georgia State. Friberg leads the MVC with 35 3-point field goals.
 
After scoring a season-high 13 points in Belmont's victory over Howard, junior Even Brauns had eight points and eight rebounds vs. Valparaiso. He scored a career-high 19 points last season vs. Bethel.
 
Senior Keishawn Davidson posted a season-high six assists Sunday and is 77 points from 1,000 for his career.
 

What's Bruin

• The Bruins went 25-8 last season in earning an at-large bid to the Postseason NIT.
• After having one of the most experienced teams in college basketball in 2021-22, Belmont lost seven of its top eight scorers from last year's team, most notably program legends Grayson Murphy - the all-time leader in assists and steals in Ohio Valley Conference history - and Nick Muszynski.
• Belmont welcomes nine newcomers, including redshirt freshman Isaiah Walker, graduate transfer Drew Friberg and three-year Tennessee Tech starter Keishawn Davidson.
• Belmont's 77 victories over the last three seasons ranks fifth nationally (Gonzaga, Kansas, Houston, Baylor; entering 2022-23).
• Belmont has posted 321 conference wins since 2003 (includes tournament), second to Gonzaga.
• Belmont's 395 victories since 2007 leads the state of Tennessee - including Tennessee, Memphis and Vanderbilt.
• Belmont has won 20+ games and earned postseason play 15 of the last 17 years. That includes NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019 & 2020.
• Belmont has won 20 conference championships (eight tournament, 12 regular season) since 2006. Only Gonzaga and Kansas have won more conference championships over that span.
• Belmont is the only school in the nation to win 20 or more games seven consecutive seasons in men's and women's basketball.
• Belmont has been ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 for 18 consecutive seasons, dating back to 2006. The Bruins were No. 21 in the Mid-Major Top 25 preseason poll.
• Belmont won an OVC-record 30 consecutive conference games from Jan. 30, 2020-Feb. 24, 2021.
• Belmont went a league-best 145-27 (.843) in Ohio Valley Conference conference games from 2013-22 (81-5 home, 64-22 away).
• Belmont has received national poll votes in 11 of the last 12 seasons.
• Belmont will play up to 13 games vs. teams who earned postseason play in 2021-22, and up to 17 games vs. team who were Q1/Q2 in the final 2021-22 NET rankings.

This marks the 41st meeting between Belmont and Middle Tennessee. The Bruins and Blue Raiders meet for the first time since 2019-20, after playing 17 consecutive seasons prior to the pandemic. Belmont has won 10 of the last 13 meetings, including 71-59 at the Murphy Center (11/30/19).

From 2010-19, Belmont and Middle Tennessee each had four seasons ranked in the final Top 50 by industry leader Ken Pomeroy.

Tip-off is set for 4 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 Belmont Bruins Radio on iHeartRadio. 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 Puckett's 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 15 of the last 17 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 has won 20 or more games in 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon). Belmont is one of only five NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 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