Men's Basketball Faces Murray State Sunday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont men's basketball completes Missouri Valley Conference regular season play Sunday vs. Murray State.
 
Belmont has secured the No. 4 seed in the MVC Men's Basketball Tournament March 6-9. The Bruins have won nine true road games – second to Drake - including victory at Missouri State, 74-65, Wednesday.
 
The victory secured a 15^th consecutive 20-win season for Belmont, joining Gonzaga and Oregon in exclusive company (Kansas has the opportunity to join the group).
 
Belmont limited Missouri State to 33 percent shooting in the first half and forced 17 turnovers for the game.
 
Carter Whitt had 10 points at Missouri State for his team-high 24^th double figure scoring game this season. He had 15 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists vs. Indiana State – the sixth time this season he has flirted with a triple-double. The Raleigh, North Carolina native is among NCAA leaders in assists per game in conference games and ranks among MVC leaders in scoring, assists, and steals. Whitt had a Curb Event Center record 15 assists vs. Missouri State Feb. 8.
 
Jonathan Pierre had 13 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three 3-point field goals at Missouri State. Pierre went over 1,000 career points vs. Missouri State Feb. 8. The Hallandale, Florida native has 22 double figure scoring games this season, including a career-high 28 points at Richmond. Pierre is a two-time MVC Newcomer of Week honoree.
 
Isaiah Walker had 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals vs. Indiana State. Taking a major jump in his junior season, Walker has scored in double figures 21 times this season, after four double figure scoring games his first two seasons. The Wyoming, Ohio had a career-high 24 points vs. Illinois State Dec. 4.
 
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 27 points vs. Missouri State and was named MVC Player of the Week Feb. 10. He had a team-high 22 points Wednesday. He stands five 3-point field goals shy of the Belmont NCAA Division I era single-season record.
 
Brigham Rogers had two steals and one blocked shot at Missouri State. The Woodstock, Georgia native scored a career-high 17 points and added nine rebounds vs. Southern Illinois. Rogers is among MVC leaders in blocked shots, offensive rebounding and 2-point field goal percentage in league games. Rogers had seven points and two steals earlier this season at Murray State.
 
Aidan Noyes has provided a major contribution off the bench in recent games. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has a 63 percent total shooting percentage in MVC games, including 13 points vs. Southern Illinois, 11 points at Murray State, and 11 points vs. Missouri State. He has made at least one 3-point field goal in 12 of his last 15 games.
 
Drew Scharnowski had three points, two rebounds, and two assists at Missouri State. He had a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds at Murray State. The 6-9 forward recorded five rebounds and two blocked shots vs. Indiana State and scored 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting at Lipscomb.
 
Sam Orme has been a steady frontcourt player for the Bruins. The Carmel, Indiana native has posted 10 double figure scoring games, including 71 points over his last five games. Orme had 13 points and five rebounds earlier this season at Murray State.
 
Brody Peebles scored in double figures in six straight games during February. The Hartselle, Alabama native has a team-high 54 career double figure scoring games. He reached 1,000 points for his career earlier this month, which included three seasons at Liberty.
 
Belmont leads the MVC in points per game, assists per game and assist-turnover ratio.
 
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 138 victories since the start of the 2020 season, ranking T-16 nationally.
• 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 450 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 five NCAA Division I head coaches to win 20 or more games in nine consecutive seasons, joining Dana Altman (Oregon), Mark Few (Gonzaga), Greg McDermott (Creighton), and Kelvin Sampson (Houston). Bill Self (Kansas) can join.

 
This marks the 29^th meeting between Belmont and Murray State. Belmont has won four of the five meetings in MVC play, including 95-77 Jan. 25 in Murray.

Belmont and Murray State played in five OVC Championship games in their 10 years together in the league. Belmont won three of the five championship games. Belmont and Murray State also won or shared every OVC regular season championship from 2013-22.
 
Belmont and Murray State each won NCAA Tournament games in 2019.
 
Belmont assistant coach Kerron Johnson ('13) sank the game-tying and game-winning shots to lift Belmont over Murray State and into the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
 
Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. 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.
 
Elite Sports Medicine is proud to serve as game sponsor.

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 15 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga and Oregon, Kansas can join) and 19 or more games in 20 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.