ST. LOUIS - - Belmont University men's basketball will host 10 Missouri Valley Conference games at the Curb Event Center as the league office released its 2022-23 men's basketball conference schedule Thursday.
"This is a monumental season for our program as we transition to the Missouri Valley Conference," said Belmont head coach Casey Alexander. "20 games against this collection of tradition-rich programs will be a challenge; but it is a challenge we readily accept and are excited about."
Belmont will host Valparaiso Thursday, Dec. 1 in the program's first-ever Missouri Valley Conference game.
The Bruins and Beacons last played during the 2015-16 season, with Belmont defeating a 30-win Valparaiso team, 85-81, behind 26 points and 10 rebounds from All-American Evan Bradds.
Belmont then travels to Illinois State Dec. 4 before returning to non-conference games.
To finish the calendar year, the Bruins host Bradley Dec. 28.
Other schedule highlights include:
· Former Tennessee State head coach Dana Ford returning to Nashville with his Missouri State team Jan. 7
· Reigning MVC regular season champion Northern Iowa visiting the Curb Jan. 14
· Belmont hosting Murray State Jan. 17
The Bruins close January with a Jan. 29 home date with Drake. Belmont defeated the Bulldogs, 74-69, last season in the ESPN Events Invitational behind 31 points from Nick Muszynski.
February includes a trip to Murray State (Feb. 1) and home dates with Illinois State (Feb. 4), UIC (Feb. 11), Evansville (Feb. 15) and Indiana State (Feb. 22).
The regular season concludes Feb. 26 at Northern Iowa.
With a 20-game Missouri Valley Conference schedule, Belmont will play nine home-and-home series plus single games in 2022-23 against Southern Illinois and Indiana State.
In total, Belmont will play up to 13 games against postseason teams from 2021-22, and up to 17 games against teams with Q1/Q2 rankings from the 2022 NET rankings.
The non-conference is highlighted by the Paradise Jam and contests against Ohio, Furman, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee and Chattanooga.
A complete listing of tip times and schedule of televised games will be released in the coming weeks.
Belmont's 77 victories since the start of the 2019-20 season rank fifth nationally - behind only Gonzaga, Kansas, Houston and Baylor.
Belmont men's basketball won 25 games last season and played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Season tickets are on sale now for the upcoming campaign for just $199 per seat and include all Men's and Women's home games. Click here to view available seating and purchase your seats.
Single game tickets will go on sale later this fall.
Flex Pack plans for the 2022-23 season are also on sale now and can be purchased here. For more information, call 615-460-BALL or visit BelmontBruins.com
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
