Men's Basketball Visits Illinois State Wednesday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball returns to game action Wednesday at Illinois State.
 
The Bruins defeated Murray State, 95-77, Jan. 25.
 
Belmont converted 17 offensive rebounds into 22 second-chance points, forced 16 turnovers, and scored 50 bench points in recording its fifth victory at Murray State since 2017.
 
Carter Whitt posted 17 points, four rebounds, six assists, and three steals en route to earning MVC Newcomer of the Week honors for the second time. Whitt ranks among MVC leaders in scoring, assists, and steals.
 
Jonathan Pierre had 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists at Murray State for his 14^th double figure scoring game of the season. The Hallandale, Florida native has been named MVC Newcomer of the Week twice. Pierre scored a career-high 28 points at Richmond.
 
Isaiah Walker provided eight points, eight rebounds, and two assists at Murray State. The Wyoming, Ohio native has 14 double figure scoring games this season, including a career-high 24 points vs. Illinois State. Walker was nominated for the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team Tuesday.
 
Tyler Lundblade ranks among MVC and NCAA leaders in 3-point field goals per game and 3-point field goal percentage. The Dallas, Texas native scored a career-high 25 points vs. Oral Roberts. Lundblade had a team-high 17 points and five rebounds vs. Valparaiso.
 
Brigham Rogers had seven points and two steals at Murray State. He has recorded double figures in four of his last six games. The Woodstock, Georgia native scored a career-high 17 points and added nine rebounds vs. Southern Illinois. Rogers is shooting 67 percent from the field in conference games.
 
Aidan Noyes has provided a major contribution off the bench in recent games. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has scored in seven straight games, including 13 points vs. Southern Illinois and 11 points at Murray State.
 
Drew Scharnowski had a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds at Murray State. The 6-9 forward recorded a career-high four blocked shots at Northern Iowa and scored 12 points at Lipscomb.
 
Sam Orme has been a steady frontcourt player for the Bruins. The Carmel, Indiana native has posted eight double figure scoring games, including 13 points and five rebounds at Murray State and 12 points and a career-high nine rebounds vs. Middle Tennessee.
 
Brody Peebles scored six points at Murray State. The Hartselle, Alabama native has a team-high 48 career double figure scoring games. He is 38 points away from 1,000 for his career.
 
Belmont leads the MVC in scoring offense, assists per game and assist-turnover ratio.
 
The Bruins enter the season alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and Oregon as one of four programs to win 20 or more games 14 consecutive seasons.
 
This marks the first time since its inaugural NCAA Division I season of 1996-97 that Belmont enters a campaign having to replace all five starters.
 
Belmont went 20-13 last season, finishing fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference.

What's Bruin

• Belmont is the only NCAA Division I institution in the nation to win 20 or more games nine consecutive seasons in men's and women's basketball.
• Belmont has 133 victories since the start of the 2020 season, ranking T-13 nationally to open the season.
• 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's 445 victories since 2007 leads the state of Tennessee - including Tennessee, Memphis, and Vanderbilt.
• This marks the first time since the 2013-14 season that Belmont enters a campaign without a returning all-conference player. That season, led by OVC Player of the Year and AP All-America Honorable Mention selection JJ Mann, Belmont won the OVC, won 26 games and reached the Postseason NIT Elite 8.
• Belmont finished Top 3 in the Missouri Valley Conference in 10 statistical categories in 2023-24 and ranked among national leaders in 3-point field goal percentage, effective field goal percentage, assists and scoring offense.
• Belmont head coach Casey Alexander is one of six NCAA Division I head coaches to win 20 or more games in eight consecutive seasons, joining Dana Altman (Oregon), Mark Few (Gonzaga), Greg McDermott (Creighton), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), and Bill Self (Kansas).

 
This marks the seventh meeting between Belmont and Illinois State. Belmont won, 99-97, Dec. 4 at the Curb Event Center. Carter Whitt hit the game-winning shot.
 
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on Gray Media affiliates (check your local listings ESPN+ and the ESPN app. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Steve Layman can be heard on Belmont Bruins Radio. 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 for 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 (behind Gonzaga and Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 14 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and Oregon) and 19 or more games in 19 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and 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 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 its existence. Belmont is the only NCAA Division I institution in America whose men's and women's basketball programs have won 20 or more games in nine consecutive seasons.