Men's Basketball Opens Conference Play at Northern Iowa Wednesday

 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball opens conference play Nov. 29 at Northern Iowa.
 
Cade Tyson scored 67 points over the weekend en route to Cathedral Classic All-Tournament Team honors.
 
Tyson, a Preseason All-MVC selection, scored a career-high 29 points vs. Georgia State.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie ranks among league leaders in scoring, assists and leads the MVC in steals. He tied the Curb Event Center record with seven steals vs. Berry.
 
Gillespie had two outstanding games vs. Northern Iowa last season; totaling 38 points on 15-for-19 FG. Gillespie scored a career-high 24 points in the regular season finale at Northern Iowa last season.

Keishawn Davidson had 17 points, a season-high nine rebounds and three assists at Northern Iowa last season. He ranks 10th in career assists (524) among active players NCAA Division I players.

Belmont turns the page after graduating program standout and Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard and sharpshooting forward Drew Friberg, among others. Sheppard and Friberg combined to make 177 3-point field goals last season, ranking among national leaders.

What's Bruin

• The Bruins went 21-11 last season, placing third in their inaugural season in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• Isaiah Walker is the lone Bruin with more than two years of experience with the program.
• Belmont, Gonzaga, Kansas and San Diego State are the only NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 18 consecutive seasons.
• Belmont, Gonzaga, Kansas and Oregon are the only NCAA Division I programs to win 20 or more games 13 consecutive seasons.
• Belmont's 414 victories since 2007 leads the state of Tennessee - including Tennessee, Memphis and Vanderbilt.
• Belmont has been a postseason fixture the last two decades. That includes NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019 & 2020.
• Belmont has won 20 conference championships (eight tournament, 12 regular season) since 2006. Only Gonzaga and Kansas have won more conference championships over that span.
• 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 is the only school in the nation to win 20 or more games eight consecutive seasons in men's and women's basketball.
• Belmont, Gonzaga, Princeton and Buffalo are the only three programs outside the power conferences to win NCAA Tournament games in men's and women's basketball since 2019.
• Since 2010, Belmont (2019) and Iona (2012) are the only two program to earn NCAA Tournament at-large bids from traditional one-bid leagues.
• Belmont has been ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 for 18 consecutive seasons, dating back to 2006.
• Belmont has received national poll votes in 11 of the last 13 seasons.
• Belmont will play up 13 games vs. teams who were Q1/Q2 in the final 2022-23 NET rankings.

 
Belmont and Northern Iowa each have active NBA players. Belmont (Ben Sheppard - Pacers; Dylan Windler - Knicks); Northern Iowa (AJ Green - Bucks).
 
Cade Tyson and Bowen Born were named Preseason All-MVC First Team.
 
This marks the third meeting between Belmont and Northern Iowa. Belmont won both meetings last season in its inaugural MVC season; 76-72 in Nashville and 83-75 in Cedar Falls.

Game will be broadcast on Bally Sports regional networks, NBC Sports Chicago (check your local listings), ESPN+ and the ESPN app. The live play-by-play of Steve Layman can be heard on Belmont Bruins Radio on iHeartRadio. In-game updates will be available via Twitter @BelmontMBB.

Belmont season tickets, which include the entire men's and women's basketball home schedule, are on sale now at BelmontBruins.com/Tickets, in addition to Puckett's flex packs, single-game tickets and group experiences. Fans can also call or text 615.460.BALL (2255).

To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.

Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
 
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