Men's Basketball Falls at Valparaiso

VALPARAISO, Ind. - - Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 101-86 decision at Valparaiso Wednesday from the Athletics-Recreation Center.
 
Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro got Valparaiso off to a positive start, and the hosts gained confidence throughout.
 
Valparaiso worked into the bonus and went 15-for-15 from the free throw in the first half in leading 56-39.
 
Belmont got within single figures and forced a Valparaiso timeout at 77-67 with 9:24 remaining, but Cooper Schwieger and Darius DeAveiro led Valparaiso to victory.
 
Jonathan Pierre led five Belmont players in double figures with 22 points. Tyler Lundblade scored 21 points.
 
Isaiah Walker had 13 points and six rebounds.
 
Carter Whitt provided 12 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
 
Brody Peebles scored 10.
 
Schwieger led Valparaiso (11-15, 4-11 MVC) with 27 points.
 
Belmont (17-9, 9-6 MVC) returns to game action Saturday at Southern Illinois.

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.