Men's Basketball Plays Illinois State Saturday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont men's basketball returns to game action Saturday vs. Illinois State.
 
Belmont (17-3, 7-2 MVC) defeated Southern Illinois Jan. 17 for its fourth consecutive victory. The Bruins lead the nation in true road victories (8) and road/neutral victories (10).
 
Annually one of the nation's top assist teams, Belmont leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 29^th nationally in assists per game (17.7). Belmont has seven games of 20 or more assists, including a season-high 26 assists vs. Saint Francis Nov. 24. Remarkably, graduate student Nic McClain still leads the MVC in assists (94) despite not having played since Jan. 1.
 
Belmont ranks fourth nationally in effective field goal percentage (59.8) – which accounts for 2-point and 3-point field goal attempts. Belmont, Saint Louis, Akron, and Liberty are the only four programs in America to rank Top 15 nationally in 2-point field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage per Ken Pomeroy.
 
Moreover, Belmont joins Michigan, Louisville, and Saint Louis as one of four programs to rank Top 15 nationally in 2-point field goal percentage offense and 2-point field goal percentage defense.
 
Belmont has posted a 115 offensive game rating per Ken Pomeroy in 11 of 20 games this season, ranking second in the MVC. For perspective, Illinois leads the nation in offensive efficiency at 126.2.
 
Annually one of the nation's top 3-point shooting teams, Belmont has outscored its opposition in points in the paint by a combined +306 points through 20 games. The Bruins have outscored 19 of 20 opponents in points in the paint, including College of Charleston and Middle Tennessee by +22 points each. Belmont outscored Southern Illinois, 42-22, in points in the paint Jan. 17.
 
Tyler Lundblade has 17 double figure scoring games this season. Lundblade scored 22 points vs. Toledo Nov. 26 en route to Coconut Hoops Most Valuable Player honors. He ranks among MVC and NCAA leaders in 3-point field goals per game and free throw percentage. Lundblade leads the MVC in six statistical categories, including 3-point field goals made and minutes per game. He made five 3-point field goals vs. Illinois State in the Curb Event Center last season. The Dallas, Texas native was named to the Lou Henson Award early season watch list.

Drew Scharnowski has 12 double figure scoring games this season, including three double-doubles. He had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals at Drake. Scharnowski scored the go-ahead basket with 11 seconds left vs. Valparaiso Jan. 13. The 6-9 forward ranks among MVC leaders in defensive blocked shot rate, offensive rebounding rate, and effective field goal percentage per Ken Pomeroy. Scharnowski had seven or more rebounds in eight straight games through Jan. 13. He had a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds at Murray State.
 
Brigham Rogers continues to provide consistent production for the Bruins. The 6-9 forward has seven double figure scoring games this season. His basket with 1:07 left helped Belmont defeat UIC. Rogers ranked among MVC leaders in offensive rebounding and blocked shots last season. He had seven rebounds at Drake. Rogers had a career-high 17 points and nine rebounds vs. Southern Illinois last season. The Woodstock, Georgia native was instrumental in Belmont's victory over Illinois State in the 2025 MVC Tournament with his defense and rebounding.
 
Sam Orme ranks among the most versatile and consistent players in the MVC. The Carmel, Indiana native has 15 double figure scoring games this season, including a career-high 21 points vs. Air Force. The forward had 12 points and 12 rebounds at UC Irvine. Orme has multiple 3-pointers in 12 games this season. Orme scored a season-high 20 points at Illinois State last season.

Nic McClain has been an important two-way player for Belmont this season. The Jennings, Florida native has eight double figure scoring games, and leads the MVC and ranks 20^th nationally in assists per game. McClain had 12 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists at College of Charleston. He scored a season-high 20 points at Middle Tennessee.
 
Bez Jenkins has been an impactful two-way player for Belmont this season. The Covington, Georgia native has 10 double figure scoring games this season. He had a career-high 18 points and seven rebounds vs. Bradley and posted a team-high 17 points vs. Valparaiso Jan. 13. Jenkins has been a galvanizing force in home games during conference play.
 
Isaiah West has been a mainstay for Belmont this season. The Springfield, Tennessee native has 76 career game appearances, and made his first career start for Belmont Jan. 7 at Northern Iowa. The 6-2 guard had nine points, five rebounds, three assists, five steals, and the game-winning assist at Drake. He ranks among league leaders in steals.
 
Jack Smiley has keyed outstanding bench contributions this season. The Indiana native had a career-high 19 points and six assists at Northern Iowa. Smiley had 17 points in 13 minutes vs. Saint Francis in the Coconut Hoops opening game. He scored 11 second-half points vs. UIC en route to MVC Freshman of the Week honors. Smiley had a clutch basket with 24 seconds left to help secure the victory at Evansville. The 6-2 guard had a career-high seven assists vs. Bradley. Smiley scored 11 points vs. Valparaiso Jan. 13 and provided 14 points and three assists at Southern Illinois Jan. 17.
 
Eoin Dillon scored a team-high and career-high 18 points at Southern Illinois Jan. 17. The Peoria, Illinois native had a 14 points – all in the second half – at Drake. He scored 12 points at UC Irvine. The 6-9 forward has made game-tying or go-ahead baskets in the final minutes of five games this season. Dillon has posted double figure scoring in five of his last eight games.
 
Win Miller has provided quality bench contributions for the Bruins. The Vestavia Hills, Alabama native scored nine points in 14 minutes vs. Bradley. He has posted two double figure scoring games this season, including 10 points in 19 minutes at Oral Roberts. Miller scored six points at Drake. He has a 3-pointer in nine games this season.

Belmont ranks Top 50 nationally in nine statistical categories, including fourth nationally in effective field goal percentage, eighth nationally in field goal percentage defense, 12^th nationally in defensive rebounds per game, and 29^th nationally in assists per game.
 
Illinois State (14-6, 6-3 MVC) ranks as a Quad 2 game according to the NET and Ken Pomeroy. The Redbirds defeated Northern Iowa, 59-54, Jan. 21. Illinois State ranks third in the MVC in offensive efficiency rating and defensive efficiency rating.
 
Illinois State is led by Chase Walker. The Columbus, Ohio native ranks among MVC and nationally leaders in usage rate and is among the leading candidates for the Larry Bird Trophy, given to the MVC Player of the Year. Walker has 13 double figure scoring games, including 20 or more points in four conference games.
 
Walker attended St. Charles Prep in Columbus – the same high school that produced Belmont four-time all-conference center Nick Muszynski. Interestingly, Muszynski had 18 points, seven rebounds, and five blocked shots in his college debut vs. Illinois State.
 
Belmont went 22-11 last season. The Bruins' 47 conference wins over the last three-plus seasons rank third in the MVC.
 
With 20 conference championships and 368 conference wins – second only to Gonzaga – over the past two decades, Belmont is poised for another strong season.
 
The Bruins have 11 returning players, including guard Tyler Lundblade and forwards Sam Orme and Brigham Rogers who were named to the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Watch List.

What's Bruin

• Belmont is the only NCAA Division I institution in the nation to win 20 or more games 10 consecutive seasons in men's and women's basketball.
• Belmont has 157 victories since the start of the 2020 season, ranking Top 20 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 469 victories since 2007 leads the state of Tennessee - including Tennessee, Memphis, and Vanderbilt.
• Belmont finished Top 3 in the Missouri Valley Conference in 12 statistical categories in 2024-25 and ranked among national leaders in assists per game, 3-point field goal percentage, and 3-point field goals per game.
• Belmont head coach Casey Alexander is one of six 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), and Bill Self (Kansas).
• Matt Norlander of CBS Sports picked Belmont to win the Missouri Valley Conference and had the Bruins ranked No. 84 nationally in his preseason rankings. Belmont was picked fifth in the MVC Preseason Poll and third by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
• Missouri Valley Conference teams are 13-4 in their first game in the NCAA tourney dating back to 2012. The league has combined for 21 wins in the NCAA Tournament in the past 12 NCAA championships and has had multiple bids 16 times since 1994.

 
Tyler Lundblade is the only player in college basketball to walk-on and earn a scholarship at three different schools (SMU, TCU, Belmont).

This marks the 10th meeting between Belmont and Illinois State. Belmont holds a 5-4 series lead. The Bruins and Redbirds have each won four home games in the series, with Belmont winning in the 2025 MVC Tournament quarterfinal round in St. Louis behind Brigham Rogers' defense and Carter Whitt's 12 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists.
 
The two regular season meetings between Belmont and Illinois State last year were decided in the final seconds. Carter Whitt's steal and last-second shot gave Belmont a 99-97 over- time victory at the Curb Event Center. Johnny Kinziger's 3-pointer gave Illinois State an 81-78 victory at CEFCU Arena.
 
Belmont (11) and Illinois State (9) rank among NCAA leaders in returning players.

Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center. The game will be broadcast on 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 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.
 
How to Follow
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