Men's Basketball Plays Valparaiso Saturday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Saturday at Valparaiso.
 
The Bruins limited Murray State to 36 percent shooting and forced 12 turnovers in earning a 69-64 victory Feb. 7.
 
Belmont ranks 42^nd nationally in effective field goal percentage and leads the Missouri Valley Conference in steals per game.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie had a career-high 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals vs. Murray State. The Greeneville, Tennessee native ranks among league leaders in scoring, assists and steals. He tied the Curb Event Center record with seven steals vs. Berry.
 
Gillespie is the only player in college basketball averaging at least 16 points, four assists and 2.5 steals per game.

Cade Tyson has 18 double figure scoring games this season and ranks second in the MVC in 3-point field goal percentage in league games. Tyson ranks among league leaders in scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point field goals.
 
The Monroe, North Carolina native scored a career-high 31 points Dec. 16 and had a career-high three blocked shots vs. UIC. Tyson is on pace to threaten Nick Muszynski's program standard for fewest games played to 1,000 career points.
 
Malik Dia has recorded 19 consecutive double figure scoring games, including 22 points, five rebounds and five assists vs. [rv/rv] Indiana State. The 6-9 forward scored a career-high 32 points vs. Drake. He posted his second career double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds vs. Arkansas State.
 
The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native ranks Top 3 in the MVC in points, field goals and free throw rate. Dia is averaging 17.5 points per game this season.
 
In fact, Gillespie, Tyson and Dia comprise a trio that places Belmont as the only NCAA Division I program with three players averaging at least 16 points per game.
 
Jayce Willingham has provided versatility and steady play for the Bruins this season. The graduate student from Jasper, Alabama has 10 double figure scoring games including a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. Lafayette. Willingham had 14 points, four rebounds and a season-high four steals vs. UIC. Willingham had a season-high five assists twice this season.

Isaiah Walker had a career-high 13 points vs. Drake and 11 points and five steals vs. Arkansas State. The Wyoming, Ohio native has been a mainstay this season, recording 30-plus minutes in 17 games. Walker had a season-high eight rebounds at Northern Iowa and has multiple assists in 15 games.
 
Brigham Rogers has made a significant frontcourt contribution as a freshman. The 6-9 forward from Woodstock, Georgia had a season-high nine points vs. Arkansas State. Rogers has provided a physical presence and huge effort plays this season, including a career-high four blocked shots Jan. 23. He is sixth in the MVC in blocked shot rate.
 
Keishawn Davidson has 67 career double figure scoring games, including a season-high 22 points at Missouri State. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native has a team-high 93 assists this season and ranks second in the MVC in assist-turnover ratio. He is averaging 10.8 points per game on 37 percent 3-point shooting in conference games.

He ranks 14th in career assists (593) among active players NCAA Division I players.

Kyler Vanderjagt has provided perimeter depth for the Bruins this season. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native has scored in 13 games this season, including 28 points during a three-game stretch in November.

Win Miller has seen increased playing time and has scored in six consecutive game appearances. The Birmingham, Alabama native is shooting 70 percent from 2-point field goal range this season and posted a career-high 17 points Nov. 14. He has made a 3-point field goal in three of his last five 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 423 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 19 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's first-ever Missouri Valley Conference game was Dec. 1, 2022. Drew Friberg led four Bruins in double figures with 20 points as Belmont won, 76-64.
 
Ja'Kobi Gillespie had 15 points, six assists, two steals and zero turnovers in last season's victory at Valparaiso.
 
Belmont had four double figure scorers in victory earlier this season. Malik Dia had his
first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Cade Tyson did not play in the first meeting this season.
 
This marks the 15th meeting between Belmont and Valparaiso.

Tip-off is set for 3 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 tickets 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