Men's Basketball Plays Furman Saturday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont men's basketball returns to game action Saturday vs. Furman.
 
Belmont leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks among national leaders in defensive rebounds and defensive foul rate.
 
Aleksa Ristic had his second consecutive game of 10 points, five rebounds, and seven assists Tuesday. The Indiana transfer ranks among national leaders in assist-turnover ratio.
 
Belmont won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship last season, as the Bruins were ranked Top 50 for virtually the entire season.
 
Belmont returns six players from its conference championship team and welcomes nine newcomers – tied for the most newcomers on a Bruin roster in the program's NCAA Division I era.
 
In fact, for the first time in program history, Belmont does not have a roster member with more than one year of game experience in a Bruin uniform.
 
Jack Smiley and Eoin Dillon were named to the MVC Preseason Watch List, while Bez Jenkins was named Preseason All-MVC by Lindy's.
 
The trio combined to score nearly 800 points and record 36 double figure scoring games last season.
 
Belmont also returns team captain Isaiah West – one of the top career steals leaders in the MVC – instant offense guard Cooper Haynes and Gonzaga transfer Graydon Lemke. 
 
Furman (4-0) has earned convincing victories over Northern Iowa, Bethune-Cookman, Holy Cross, and Bob Jones to open the regular season. The Paladins rank Top 50 nationally in assist-turnover ratio, scoring offense, and defensive rebounds per game.
 
All five Furman starters average in double figures, led by Florida State transfer Tom House.

What's Bruin

• Belmont is the only NCAA Division I institution in the nation to win 20 or more games 11 consecutive seasons in men's and women's basketball.
• Belmont has 168 victories this decade, ranking Top 15 nationally entering the season.
• Belmont has won 21 conference championships (eight tournament, 13 regular season) since 2006. Only Gonzaga and Kansas have won more conference championships over that span.
• Belmont, Houston and Louisville are in an exclusive fraternity of programs to win men's basketball conference championships in three different leagues over the last two decades.
• Belmont's 480 victories since 2007 leads the state of Tennessee - including Tennessee, Memphis, and Vanderbilt.
• Belmont led the nation in effective field goal percentage in 2025-26, and ranked Top 50 in 11 statistical categories.
• Belmont ranked third nationally in true road victories in 2025-26, behind only Miami (OH), and SFA. Belmont also ranked third nationally in Q2 road victories, behind only UConn and St. John's.
• Missouri Valley Conference teams are 13-5 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 13 NCAA championships and has had multiple bids 16 times since 1994.

 
Belmont legend Ben Sheppard and Furman standout Jalen Slawson are teammates on the Indiana Pacers.
 
Belmont and Furman competed as conference rivals in men's soccer when the Bruins had affiliate membership in the SoCon from 2018-21.
 
This marks the seventh meeting between Belmont and Furman.
 
The Paladins won in dramatic fashion Nov. 8, 2024, as PJay Smith's 3-pointer lifted Furman to a 76-74 at the Curb Event Center.
 
The 2021 Belmont-Furman game was among the greatest games in Curb Event Center history. Grayson Murphy had 17 points, seven steals, five rebounds and five assists as the Bruins won, 95-89, in overtime.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. CT from Allen Arena. 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. 
 
Belmont is proud to continue its Military Appreciation Ticket Program presented by Edley's – whereby all active military and veterans – and up to four guests – receive FREE admission to all men's and women's basketball games at the Curb Event Center.

Fans and viewers are encouraged to log onto NewsChannel5.com/contests to nominate loved ones and inspirational figures in their lives for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Belmont Basketball and Win Steve's Seats.
 
Contest winners will receive FREE VIP admission to a Belmont Basketball game, including black car transportation from Gray Line Tennessee, and a meet-and-greet with Voice of the Bruins and NewsChannel5 sports anchor Steve Layman.
 
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 21 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 and Kansas) and 19 or more games in 21 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 20 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 11 consecutive seasons.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont men's basketball on social media - @BelmontMBB on X, formerly Twitter and @belmont_mbb on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. 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.