Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball nearly pulled off its latest major conference conquest, dropping an 82-71 decision at Vanderbilt Tuesday night in the first round of the 2022 Postseason NIT from Memorial Gymnasium.
The Bruins were seeking a fifth Southeastern Conference triumph in recent years, and led the majority of the game before yielding to late free throws as the Commodores ended on a 17-6 run.
The two Nashville schools separated by three blocks had not met since a 69-60 Belmont victory during the 2017-18 season.
Familiarity and emotions ran high in what turned into a wildly entertaining game.
Belmont raced out of the gates behind inspired defense and fast break points.
Ben Sheppard scored the first four points of the game, before baskets from Nick Muszynski, Grayson Murphy, Will Richard and Tate Pierson gave Belmont a 14-4 lead less than five minutes in.
After Vanderbilt closed within 17-12, Richard scored five points before Michael Shanks added an acrobatic transition finish at the rim to give Belmont a 24-12 lead with 11:15 left in the first half.
The sizable and boisterous Belmont support section urged the Bruins on, as two more Murphy baskets maintained a double-figure lead.
Vanderbilt received strong contributions from Jordan Wright, as he punctuated a 10-0 run to close the margin to one, 32-31, with 3:47 left in the first half.
Luke Smith answered with a timely 3-pointer for Belmont on the next possession.
While Belmont did an extraordinary job of keeping Vanderbilt – one of the nation's top teams in free throw reliance – off the charity stripe, the hosts hurt Belmont with offensive rebounds.
Quentin Millora-Brown spearheaded the Vanderbilt rebounding effort, as following another made Richard 3-pointer, his putback basket before the first half horn gave the Commodores a 39-38 lead at halftime.
Belmont shot 50 percent (15-of-30) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 5-of-9 from 3-point distance.
The Bruins turned six Vanderbilt turnovers into eight points in the first half.
The free-flowing basketball continued in the second half, as more strong play from Sheppard and Richard put Belmont back on top.
A Wright conventional 3-point play and a Millora-Brown basket gave Vanderbilt a 51-46 lead with 14:11 remaining.
With Sheppard hounding SEC leading scorer Scottie Pippen, Jr., Belmont was able to respond.
Two straight baskets from Muszynski and Murphy tied the score at 52 with 12:30 left.
A Wright 3-pointer gave Vanderbilt a 64-56 advantage with 7:55 remaining.
But in keeping with the mentality of its senior leaders, Belmont simply fought on.
As Belmont held Vanderbilt without a field goal for a nearly seven-minute stretch, Muszynski capped a 9-1 run to tie the score at 65 with 4:07 left.
On Vanderbilt's next possession, Sheppard got clipped and lost his balance chasing Pippen, Jr. around a series of screens. As his Bruin teammates stepped up defensively to help on the talented guard, Pippen, Jr. passed to Rodney Chatman in the far corner for a 3-pointer to give Vanderbilt a 68-65 lead.
Muszynski would connect with Murphy on a gorgeous give-and-go basket to cut the margin to one with 3:32 left.
Liam Robbins would then score a contested 12-footer over Muszynski to put Vanderbilt back on top by three points.
After an empty Belmont possession, Pippen, Jr. got loose in transition for a rare basket; a conventional 3-point play with 2:44 left that gave Vanderbilt a 73-67 lead.
Richard got Belmont back within four, but Vanderbilt made 9-of-10 free throws in the final 1:53 – including four straight from Robbins – to secure the outcome.
All told, Belmont shot 45 percent (27-of-60) from the field. Belmont was 3-of-15 from 3-point distance in the second half.
Richard led four Belmont players in double figures with 22 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Muszynski had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Sheppard had 11 points and six rebounds, while limiting Pippen, Jr. to two points in the first 37 minutes of the game.
Murphy had 10 points and six assists.
Wright led Vanderbilt (18-16) with 24 points.
Belmont ends the 2021-22 season with a record of 25-8.
Muszynski, Murphy, Smith, Pierson and Caleb Hollander end their Belmont careers with a record of 104-25.
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). 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 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
