With Feeling! Men's Basketball Earns Big-Time Victory over Murray State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - In an inspired, virtuoso performance, Belmont University men's basketball defeated Murray State, 103-86, Saturday night from the Curb Event Center.
 
Playing without two starters in All-Missouri Valley Conference candidates Nic McClain and Sam Orme, Belmont demonstrated top shelf execution and purpose, locked in from the opening tip before an energized home crowd and national television audience.
 
Belmont earned a 20^th victory for a 16^th consecutive season – joining Gonzaga in exclusive company nationally (Kansas and Oregon can join) – in emphatic fashion to cement its place atop the MVC standings.
 
Belmont used a 20-0 run within the first eight minutes of the game to take complete control.
 
Reigning NCAA 3-point champion Tyler Lundblade made his first two shots from behind the arc to spark the run as Belmont earned 12 consecutive defensive stops.
 
A Brigham Rogers putback and an Aidan Noyes 3-pointer made the score 22-4 with 12:26 left in the first half.
 
From there, the all-court impact of Drew Scharnowski took over, as his flurry of offensive rebounds, blocked shots, and relentless attacks on the rim sustained momentum.
 
Back-to-back 3-pointer from Jack Smiley and Eoin Dillon gave Belmont a 37-13 lead with 8:41 left in the first half.
 
As both teams managed frontcourt foul trouble, Belmont used strong defense into transition scoring opportunities as baskets from Bez Jenkins, Smiley, and Scharnowski made the score 49-25 with 3:16 left in the first half.
 
Roman Domon led a Murray State response, as the Racers used a 15-5 run to get within 54-40 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 58 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes – including 7-for-13 from 3-point distance. Belmont had 16 assists on 21 field goals in the first half and limited Murray State – among the nation's highest scoring teams – to 41 percent shooting.
 
Murray State got within 58-45 on a Layne Taylor 3-pointer, but Belmont answered back with another 14-0 run.
 
Lundblade had seven points during the run as 3-pointers from Isaiah West – sparked by a Rogers' block – Eoin Dillon increased the margin to 27, 72-45, with 15:20 left.
 
Scharnowski, coming off a career-high eight assists at Valparaiso, again was an outstanding facilitator, finding teammates inside and on the perimeter for high-percentage shots.
 
Noyes made back-to-back 3-pointers during a 46-second span that made the score 84-54 as Belmont continued to turn defense into offense.
 
The Bruins led by 34, 95-61, with 7:33 left as they threatened numerous program and arena records in the final minutes.
 
All told, Belmont shot 56 percent (37-for-66) from the field – including 12-for-24 from 3-point distance; becoming the first Murray State opponent to make double figure 3-pointers in a game this season. Murray State entered the game No. 1 nationally in taking away 3-point attempts from its opponents.
 
Belmont handed out 25 assists – its eighth 20+ assist game of the season - on a season-high 37 made field goals and committed only eight turnovers.
 
Belmont's 1.459 points per possession per Ken Pomeroy represented its highest offensive output since a 1.466 performance in a 114-62 victory over SIU Edwardsville, Jan. 23, 2021.
 
The Bruins' 103 points represented its first game over the century mark at home since defeating Southeast Missouri, 102-62, Jan. 6, 2022.
 
Lundblade led four Belmont players in double figures with a career-high 27 points.
 
Scharnowski had a season-high 19 points, a career-high 11 rebounds, a career-high nine assists, and two blocked shots, nearly achieving his first career triple-double.
 
Noyes scored a career-high 15 points.
 
Dillon continued his fine play with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
 
Jenkins, Smiley, Rogers, and West combined to provide 25 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists.
 
Fred King led Murray State (16-7, 8-4 MVC) with 22 points.
 
Belmont has won 10 of the last 13 meetings vs. Murray State, including six of the seven meetings in Missouri Valley Conference play. Belmont is 9-1 all-time vs. Murray State in the Curb Event Center.
 
Belmont (20-3, 10-2 MVC) returns to game action Tuesday vs. Drake.
 
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 16 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga; Kansas and Oregon can join) and 19 or more games in 21 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga; Kansas and San Diego State can join). 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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