Men's Basketball Defeats Indiana State to Secure Outright MVC Regular Season Championship

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball defeated Indiana State, 87-70, Saturday night from the Curb Event Center to secure the outright Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship.
 
It marked Belmont's 13 regular season conference championship in the last 21 years – spanning three different conferences (ASUN, OVC, MVC).
 
Belmont is tied for fourth nationally in victories (25) with Duke, Arizona, Michigan, UConn, Saint Louis, and SFA.
 
Belmont has won 12 of its last 13 games and has only lost one game in regulation since Dec. 4.
 
Belmont also continues to lead the nation in true road victories (11) and road/neutral victories (13).
 
Belmont's 13 victories away from home are more than SMU, Texas, and Indiana combined.
 
"Full credit to our players for this conference championship," said Belmont head coach Casey Alexander. "Tonight was emblematic of our season; wasn't always easy, wasn't always pretty, but collectively we have a group of guys willing to support each other and make contributions on both ends of the floor for the betterment of the team. This is a tremendous accomplishment because the Missouri Valley Conference is a tremendous conference. You have to earn it through daily process, dedication, and accountability. Wonderful that our home crowd and student section could share in this. Enjoy. Celebrate. Then on to the next game."
 
Reigning NCAA 3-point champion Tyler Lundblade electrified the packed home crowd with a 3-pointer 17 seconds into the game and the Bruins maintained the momentum throughout.
 
After consecutive baskets from Brigham Rogers made the score 17-11, Indiana State took a brief lead on a layin from Ian Scott.
 
Belmont entered play among the nation's top 3-point shooting teams, but uncharacteristically missed 12 consecutive shots from long distance during the first half.
 
The Bruins used strong defense and rebounding to hold Indiana State scoreless the final 6:34 of the first half.
 
Five points each from Tyler and Jack Smiley highlighted the 15-0 run as Belmont led 39-25 at halftime.
 
Belmont shot 48 percent (14-for-29) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, while limiting Indiana State to 31 percent shooting.
 
The Bruins were +11 in bench points, sparked by Smiley and Rogers.
 
Seven quick points from Sam Orme and a thunderous alley oop dunk from Isaiah West to Drew Scharnowski extended the margin to 20, 50-30, with 17:50 remaining.
 
Belmont turned defensive rebounds and live-ball turnovers into instant offense, as Scharnowski, Rogers, and Orme spearheaded transition scores.
 
Indiana State got as close as 12 points, but scores from Smiley and a Rogers conventional 3-point play made the score 73-53 with 6:58 left.
 
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander provided senior reserves Keith Robbins and Jake Dykstra extended playing time down the stretch, with each making memorable 3-pointers.
 
Belmont led by as many as 24.
 
All told, Belmont shot 51 percent (33-for-65) from the field, handing out 17 assists and forcing 13 Indiana State turnovers.
 
The Bruins scored 50 points in the paint and outrebounded Indiana State, 35-33.
 
Smiley led four Belmont players in double figures with 18 points. He added three assists and two steals.
 
Scharnowski had 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists while Rogers provided 11 points and three rebounds.
 
Lundblade had 11 points and a career-high six rebounds. With three 3-point field goals, Lundblade has 102 3-point field goals on the season; two shy of tying his own Belmont single-season record.
 
12 Belmont players scored.
 
Scott led Indiana State (10-19, 3-15 MVC) with 16 points.
 
Belmont (25-4, 15-3 MVC) returns to game action Feb. 25 vs. Evansville.
 
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 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; Oregon can join) and 19 or more games in 21 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga and Kansas; 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.
 
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.