Ben Sheppard Named MVC Player of the Week

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball senior Ben Sheppard has been named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.

Sheppard averaged 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this past week as Belmont defeated Murray State and Bradley.

Sheppard had 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and made the game-winning shot with 3.3 seconds left as Belmont won at Bradley to end Bradley's 17-game home court win streak - the third-longest in the nation behind Auburn and UCLA.

He had 23 points, six rebounds and four assists vs. Murray State.

The Atlanta, Georgia native ranks among MVC leaders in nine statistical categories, including third in scoring, ninth in assists per game and 10^th in steals per game.

The senior has 63 double figure scoring games and is on the Lou Henson Player of the Year Award Watch List.

Sheppard joins Tucker DeVries of Drake as one of two repeat winners of MVC Player of the Week this season.

Belmont returns to game action Wednesday at Evansville.

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