Men's Basketball Releases 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball head coach Casey Alexander released the program's 2025-26 non-conference schedule Wednesday.
 
The schedule features a collection of tradition-rich programs and returning postseason teams as the Bruins enter year four in the nationally-regarded Missouri Valley Conference – annually a Top 10 conference in the NCAA NET rankings and per noted statistician Ken Pomeroy.
 
In all, Belmont will have the chance to play up to 14 games against Q1/Q2 opposition based on the 2024-25 official NET rankings.
 
One of four programs to win 20 or more games in 15 consecutive seasons – alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and Oregon – Belmont looks to continue momentum from last season where it took NCAA Tournament Round of 32 participant Drake to the wire in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
 
"Putting a non-conference schedule is always challenging, but we feel good about how everything came together," Alexander said. "We had several series on the books from last season and have those return games – as well as some traditional rivalries. We have the opportunity to play high-level competition in several destination locations our players and fans will enjoy."
 
Belmont opens the season Nov. 3 hosting Air Force at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins won in Colorado Springs last season behind five double figure scorers.
 
The Bruins then host crosstown rival Tennessee State Nov. 8. Belmont has won 24 of the last 27 meetings. The Bruins and Tigers have not met since February of 2022.
 
Belmont heads to Oklahoma the following weekend to face Oral Roberts. Tyler Lundblade scored 25 points as the Bruins scored 59 second-half points in last season's victory in Nashville. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Voice of the Bruins Steve Layman who spent five years as sports director at KOKI-TV in Tulsa.
 
The 152^nd edition of the Battle of the Boulevard vs. Lipscomb is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the Curb Event Center. It will serve as the second game of a doubleheader with the respective women's basketball programs.
 
Belmont has won 19 of the last 22 games in the series, including last season's dramatic 80-79 victory on Isaiah Walker's conventional 3-point play. The game has been decided on the final possession each of the last three years.
 
Belmont hosts Nashville neighbor Fisk Nov. 21.
 
The Bruins head to Ft. Myers, Florida for the first time in 14 years, taking part in the Coconut Classic multi-team event Nov. 24-26. The field is still being finalized.
 
November closes with a trip to the Palmetto State and meeting with perennial CAA contender College of Charleston. The Cougars won 24 games in 2024-25.
 
Belmont's December schedule will also be formidable, starting with 2024 Atlantic 10 Conference champion Richmond Dec. 3 at the Curb Event Center. Behind Jonathan Pierre's near triple-double, Belmont won a high-scoring game in Richmond last season.
 
The Bruins then travel down I-24 for a matchup with Middle Tennessee Dec. 7. Belmont won, 82-79, last season at the Curb Event Center. Belmont has won 12 of the last 16 meetings in the series. The Blue Raiders finished tied for second in Conference USA last season.
 
Following a pair of pre-holiday Missouri Valley Conference games between Dec. 12-17, Belmont concludes non-conference play Dec. 19 at UC Irvine. The Anteaters went 32-7 last season in reaching the Postseason NIT championship game.
 
Belmont's 40 conference wins over the last three seasons rank third in the MVC.
 
The Belmont roster features 11 returning players – including three redshirt freshmen – and four newcomers.
 
The complete 2025-26 schedule - including Missouri Valley Conference opponents, dates, times and broadcast information - will be released in the future.

The play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Steve Layman can be heard on Belmont Bruins Radio and ESPN+.
 
Belmont season tickets – which include the entire men's and women's basketball home schedule – are on sale now at belmontbruins.com/tickets. 
 
To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.
 
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, Kansas, and Oregon) 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 six 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 10 consecutive seasons.
 
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