Men's Basketball Plays at Samford Saturday

Belmont at Samford
Saturday, Dec. 16 | 2 p.m. CT
Pete Hanna Center | Birmingham, Ala.
 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Saturday at Samford.
 
Ja'Kobi Gillespie had a team-high 23 points and four steals as Belmont defeated Middle Tennessee Dec. 9. 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.
 
The Greeneville, Tennessee native is shooting 57 percent from the field during Belmont's win streak.

Cade Tyson had 10 points and five rebounds at Middle Tennessee. Tyson ranks among league leaders in five statistical categories.
 
The Monroe, North Carolina native scored a career-high 29 points vs. Georgia State.
 
Malik Dia had 22 points and four rebounds at Middle Tennessee en route to MVC Newcomer of the Week honors.
 
One of the most impactful frontcourt players in the MVC, Dia has nine double figure scoring games this season including a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds vs. Valparaiso.
 
Dia has 45 field goals during Belmont's win streak.
 
Keishawn Davidson had a season-high 14 points at Northern Iowa.
 
He ranks 10th in career assists (538) among active players NCAA Division I players.
 
Isaiah Walker had a career-high 11 points and six rebounds at Middle Tennessee. The Wyoming, Ohio native has provided consistent production, with six or more rebounds in seven games this season.
 
Jayce Willingham had five points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists at Middle Tennessee. The Jasper, Alabama native has provided defensive versatility and strong rebounding this season, recording a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. Lafayette.

Brigham Rogers had four points and three rebounds at Middle Tennessee. The Woodstock, Georgia native has nine blocked shots this season and has 26 rebounds during Belmont's win streak.

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

 
Belmont has strong ties to the state of Alabama; including staff members Kerron Johnson (Huntsville) and Tyler Holloway (Decatur), and former staff member Mick Hedgepeth (Crossville).
 
Belmont guard Win Miller was an Alabama All-State performer at Vestavia Hills High School. Miller averaged 21.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as Vestavia Hills was ranked No. 1 in the state of Alabama last season.
 
Belmont was Samford's first men's basketball opponent in the Pete Hanna Center (11/15/07). Behind 25 points from future Belmont Hall of Famer Justin Hare, Belmont won, 81-73. Hare's brother, Josh, played at Samford from 2002-05.
 
Belmont and Samford met four times from 2001-03 as then-Atlantic Sun Conference members.
 
Samford women's basketball head coach Carley Kuhns was an assistant coach at Belmont from 2011-16.
 
This marks the 32nd meeting between Belmont and Samford. Belmont has won 13 of the last 15 meetings.
 
Belmont won, 79-56, last season at the Curb Event Center.

Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on 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