Miller Shines as Men's Basketball Defeats Berry

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind a career-high 17 points from Win Miller, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Berry, 93-59, Tuesday night from the Curb Event Center.
 
Miller made his first eight field goal attempts, adding three rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes.
 
Belmont welcomed back former Bruin standout and Berry head coach Mick Hedgepeth.
 
The Bruins came out strong, as four different starters scored in claiming a 13-2 lead.
 
Keishawn Davidson posted double figures within the first nine minutes as the Bruins extended the lead to 30-8.
 
Consecutive 3-pointers from Jake Dykstra fueled a Bruin run to close the first half.
 
Belmont led 55-34 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 66 percent (23-for-35) from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Bruins received 24 bench points in the first half.
 
Berry played spirited, fearless basketball, and got a boost early in the second half with two desperation, end-of-shot-clock 3-pointers.
 
After a driving basket, Ja'Kobi Gillespie assisted on an Isaiah Walker 3-pointer to highlight a Belmont four-point possession.
 
Two baskets from Kyler Vanderjagt extended the lead to 72-47 with 13:02 left.
 
The final 10 minutes were characterized by Miller's all-court game and engaged team defense led by Gillespie and Vanderjagt.
 
All told, Belmont shot 57 percent (37-for-65) from the field.
 
The Bruins posted 16 steals and six blocked shots.
 
Miller paced five Bruins in double figures.
 
Malik Dia had 14 points and eight rebounds.
 
Gillespie had 12 points, seven steals and four assists, while Jayce Willingham posted 12 points and eight rebounds.
 
Davidson had 10.

Dykstra had a career-high nine points and five rebounds.
 
Vanderjagt had eight points, five steals and four rebounds.
 
Jacob Morgan led Berry (0-2) with 16 points.
 
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander recorded his 100^th victory at Belmont, in his 131^st game.
 
Belmont returns to game action Friday, Nov. 17 at [3/3] Arizona.
 
Belmont University men's basketball has been a postseason fixture the last two decades, 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 13 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon) and 19 or game games in 18 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State). Belmont is among select programs with two or more first-round selections in the NBA Draft over the last five years (Ben Sheppard, Dylan Windler). 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