Men's Basketball Hosts Arkansas State Wednesday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Wednesday vs. Arkansas State.
 
Belmont ranks among NCAA leaders in effective field goal percentage and leads the Missouri Valley Conference in steals per game.
 
Ja'Kobi Gillespie has provided consistent offensive production for the Bruins this season. The Greeneville, Tennessee native 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 is averaging 16.8 points and 3.8 assists per game on 56/43/85 shooting splits.
 
Cade Tyson had a career-high 31 points Dec. 16 at Samford. Tyson ranks among league leaders in five statistical categories.
 
The Monroe, North Carolina native has eclipsed 20 points five times this season. He scored 29 points vs. Georgia State in the Bruins' season-opening victory.
 
Malik Dia has recorded seven consecutive double figure scoring games.
 
The forward recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds vs. Valparaiso. Dia is averaging 16.3 points per game this season.
 
Keishawn Davidson recorded 13 points and six assists last time out. He had a season-high 14 points at Northern Iowa.
 
He ranks 10th in career assists (544) 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 eight games this season.
 
Jayce Willingham has provided versatility and steady play for the Bruins this season. The graduate student from Jasper, Alabama has five double figure scoring games including a double double of 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. Lafayette.
 
Brigham Rogers has made a significant frontcourt contribution as a freshman. The 6-9 forward from Woodstock, Georgia has a season-high eight points on three occasions. Rogers is 8-for-12 from the field over his last three games.

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 418 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 four 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.

 
The last two Belmont graduates from the state of Arkansas were from Bentonville (Nick Smith, Michael Shanks).
 
Belmont women's basketball graduate Jamilyn Kinney ('22) is a native of Van Buren, Arkansas. Kinney was part of three NCAA Tournament teams – including victories over Gonzaga and Oregon - and currently coaches girls' basketball in the Rogers, Arkansas school district.
 
This marks the sixth meeting between Belmont and Arkansas State.
 
Belmont won the last meeting, 93-60, Nov. 17, 2010 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
 
Belmont Director of Player Development Kerron Johnson scored seven points in the 2010 Belmont-Arkansas State game.

Tip-off is set for 6:30 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.
 
Fans are invited to take advantage of Belmont Holiday Hoops single-game ticket specials – including $5 tickets through fevo.com.
 
Click HERE

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