Sheppard Leads Men's Basketball Past UIC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Behind 25 points from Ben Sheppard, Belmont University men's basketball defeated UIC, 98-71, Saturday from the Curb Event Center.
 
Sheppard had 25 points on 14 field goal attempts as Belmont handed out a season-high 24 assists on 36 field goals.
 
Belmont made its first five 3-point field goals to seize an early lead.
 
Jaden Brownell scored 11 points in a three-minute span to get UIC within 14-12 before Sheppard responded.
 
The senior guard scored nine straight points in 103 seconds to push the margin to 23-14.
 
3-pointers from Keishawn Davidson and Sheppard and a Ja'Kobi Gillespie driving layin made the score 41-23 with 4:07 left in the first half.
 
Michael Shanks capped a strong first half with a wing 3-pointer as Belmont led 51-37 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 58 percent (18-for-31) from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 8-for-14 from 3-point distance.
 
Belmont turned seven UIC turnovers into 16 points in the first half.
 
Jalen Jackson helped the visitors stay within reach before a Cade Tyson steal and score gave Belmont a 63-43 lead 13:52 left.
 
The Bruins turned defensive stops into open court opportunities as a dazzling Sheppard drive and a Frank Jakubicek post score increased the margin to 29, 90-61, with 6:28 remaining.
 
11 Bruins scored, including reserve Aidan Braccia who made his first basket in a Belmont uniform down the stretch.
 
All told, Belmont shot 57 percent (36-for-63) from the field – including 13-for-23 from 3-point distance. The Bruins forced 16 turnovers and held UIC to 34 percent shooting in the second half.
 
Tyson had 19 points, three rebounds and two assists.
 
Drew Friberg had nine points and seven rebounds while Shanks scored a season-high nine points.
 
Davidson and Gillespie combined on 14 assists.
 
Jackson led UIC (10-17, 2-14 MVC) with 21 points.
 
The victory keeps Belmont one game behind Bradley and Drake for first place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings with four conference games remaining.
 
Belmont (18-9, 11-5 MVC) returns to game action Wednesday vs. 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