Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind 20 points from Nick Muszynski, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Eastern Illinois, 81-57, Thursday from the Curb Event Center.
Muszynski went 10-of-12 from the field and added six rebounds and four blocked shots as Belmont won its ninth consecutive game.
3-pointers from Tate Pierson and Ben Sheppard spearheaded a 14-5 run to close the first half.
Belmont led 31-20 at halftime.
From there, Belmont rode the efficient play of Muszynski and spirited defense to take control.
A Sheppard dunk and a Luke Smith driving layin made the score 57-38 with 8:35 left.
Grayson Murphy provided a series of dazzling assists - including a lengthy bounce pass to Smith - which extended the margin to 22.
All told, Belmont shot 59 percent (36-of-61) from the field - including 76 percent in the second half.
Sheppard had 16 points.
Murphy had 11 assists, six rebounds and three steals - getting him within 12 steals of the OVC all-time career steals record.
Kashawn Charles led Eastern Illinois (5-22, 3-11 OVC) with 15 points.
Belmont has won 11 straight games in the series.
The Bruins, which lead the nation in assists, had 23 assists on 36 made field goals.
Belmont (23-5, 13-2 OVC) returns to game action Saturday vs. SIUE.
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 has won 20 or more games in 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon). 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 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
