Men's Basketball Rides Defense in Convincing Victory over Murray State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - In a game 11 months in the making, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Murray State, 80-65, Tuesday night from the Curb Event Center.

After meeting for a decade as rivals in the Ohio Valley Conference, Belmont and Murray State wrote the first chapter of its Missouri Valley Conference series history.

Last Feb. 24, Belmont lost at Murray State to extinguish NCAA Tournament at-large aspirations.

The Bruins waited nearly a calendar year to even the score.

While the game featured 21 newcomers, a boisterous Belmont student section captured the spirit and tradition of the Belmont-Murray State rivalry.

Early on, Murray State found an offensive rhythm as Belmont rimmed out promising offensive opportunities.

Behind 10 early points from Jamari Smith, Murray State led 21-11 with 8:30 left in the first half.

From there, Belmont's defense rose to another level, with Even Brauns sparking a game-changing run.

As the Bruins held Murray State to one field goal over a seven-minute stretch, Brauns, Ben Sheppard and Ja'Kobi Gillespie combined on 14 points during 18-3 run as Belmont took a 34-28 lead with 1:49 left in the first half.

While the Bruins missed three more clean looks to close the first half, Belmont led 34-30 at halftime and momentum had clearly swung towards the home team.

Riding its defense and rebounding, Belmont held Murray State to 5-for-19 shooting to close the first half.

Belmont was ultra-efficient to start the second half, as 3-pointers from Drew Friberg and Cade Tyson coupled with a Sheppard conventional 3-point play increased the lead to 43-32 with 18:09 left.

As Belmont stacked defensive stops together, the Bruins were able to open court scoring opportunities and carry pace and fluidity in their halfcourt offense.

In fact, Gillespie and Sheppard would score 14 consecutive Belmont points to break the game open.

Following another series of blocked shots from Brauns, Sheppard scored an acrobatic layin that made the score 54-36 with 13:23 to go and sent the Curb Event Center crowd into a frenzy.

Keishawn Davidson orchestrated the Belmont offense confidently in the second half.

A Friberg 3-point field goal and a Brauns dunk gave Belmont a 66-46 lead with 7:53 left.

Simply put, Belmont put together a stretch of its best basketball of the season, with determined defense and rebounding rewarded on the offensive end.

All told, Belmont shot 57 percent from the field in the second half.

Belmont handed out 20 assists on 29 made field goals and limited Murray State to 36 percent shooting.

Sheppard led five Bruins in double figures with 23 points. He added six rebounds and four assists.

Friberg had 14 points, while Gillespie and Tyson each scored 12.

Brauns had 11 points, five rebounds and a career-high six blocked shots.

Davidson had seven points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Rob Perry led Murray State (10-9, 5-4 MVC) with 14 points.

Belmont (14-6, 7-2 MVC) returns to game action Saturday at Bradley. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. CT.

NOTES: With a basket in the first half, Davidson went over 1,000 points for his career...Brauns' six blocked shots is believed to be the most by a Belmont player in a single-game since Boomer Herndon had eight blocked shots at North Florida Feb. 24, 2007...Belmont leads the overall series with Murray State, 13-11...Belmont held Murray State to 36 percent shooting; its best field goal percentage defense game of the season...Belmont's offensive efficiency rating (124.2) was the highest by a Murray State opponent this season.

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