Men's Basketball Plays Evansville Wednesday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont men's basketball returns to game action Wednesday vs. Evansville.
 
Belmont (25-4, 15-3 MVC) defeated Indiana State, 87-70, Feb. 21, to secure the outright Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship – the program's 13^th regular season conference championship in the last 21 seasons.
 
Belmont joins Houston and Louisville in an exclusive fraternity of programs to win men's basketball conference championships in three different leagues over the last two decades.
 
Belmont, Gonzaga, Virginia, Saint Louis, and High Point are the only five programs nationally with only one regulation setback since Dec. 4.
 
Belmont enters the week ranked No. 31 in the national 'Power 37' by college basketball reporter Andy Katz, No. 32 in Nolan and adjusted ELO, No. 37 in KPI, No. 38 in RPI, No. 47 by ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, and No. 50 in strength of record.
 
Belmont also ranks among national leaders in Q1/Q2 winning percentage, among the likes of Michigan, Duke, Arizona, and Gonzaga.
 
Through games played Feb. 23, Belmont is tied for fourth nationally in victories (25).
 
The Bruins lead the nation in true road victories (11) and road/neutral victories (13) – with an average margin of victory away from home of nearly 16 points.
 
And since Casey Alexander became head coach prior to the 2019-20 season, Belmont's 165 victories rank 13^th nationally – ahead of the likes of Tennessee, Auburn, Creighton, Baylor, and North Texas – all with a transition to the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Belmont has eight players with double figure made 3-point field goals – including fifth-year wing Aidan Noyes who has made 16 3-pointers over his last seven games since returning to the lineup Jan. 24.
 
In going over the century mark in victories over Murray State and Drake, Belmont became the first Missouri Valley Conference program since Wichita State in 1988 to eclipse 100 points in back-to-back games.
 
Per Ken Pomeroy, Belmont is believed to be just the third team in America this season to record back-to-back offensive efficiency games over 145.0 against NCAA Division I opponents – joining Illinois and Iowa.
 
In victory over Murray State Jan. 31, Belmont joined Gonzaga, Kansas in exclusive company as programs to win 20 or more games in 16 consecutive seasons (Oregon can join).
 
Belmont is one of 11 programs to earn 20 or more victories in the first three months of the season (Nov.-Jan.) joining the likes of Arizona, Gonzaga, Miami (OH), UConn, Saint Louis, Michigan, Duke, Nebraska, George Mason, and High Point.
 
Belmont is also just the fifth team in Missouri Valley Conference history to reach 20 victories by Jan. 31, joining 2014 Wichita State, 1986 Bradley, 2012 Creighton, and 2015 Northern Iowa – each of whom earned Top 8 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Belmont and Saint Louis have been 1-2 nationally in effective field goal percentage all season long – which accounts for 2-point and 3-point field goal attempts. Belmont and Liberty are the only two programs in America to rank Top 10 nationally in 2-point field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage per Ken Pomeroy.
 
Moreover, Belmont joins Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Duke, and Saint Louis as one of six programs to rank Top 30 nationally in 2-point field goal percentage offense and 2-point field goal percentage defense.
 
Annually one of the nation's top assist teams, Belmont leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 12^th nationally in assists per game (18.3). Belmont has nine games of 20 or more assists, including a season-high 26 assists vs. Saint Francis Nov. 24. The Bruins have 176 assists over their last nine games.
 
Annually one of the nation's top 3-point shooting teams, Belmont has outscored its opposition in points in the paint by a combined +354 points through 29 games. The Bruins have outscored 25 of 29 opponents in points in the paint, including College of Charleston and Middle Tennessee by +22 points each. Belmont outscored Murray State, 40-22, in points in the paint Feb. 15.
 
Tyler Lundblade has 26 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 five statistical categories, including 3-point field goals made and minutes per game. He scored a career-high 31 points vs. Northern Iowa Feb. 12 and 27 points vs. Murray State Jan. 31. The Dallas, Texas native was named to the Lou Henson Award early season watch list and E*TRADE Men's 3-Point Championship watch list. He is three shy of breaking his own Belmont single-season 3-point field goal record (104). Lundblade had a game-high 21 points at Evansville earlier this season.

Drew Scharnowski has 16 double figure scoring games this season, including four double-doubles. He had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists vs. Murray State Jan. 31. 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. Scharnowski also had eight assists at Valparaiso. He recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds at Evansville earlier this season.
 
Brigham Rogers continues to provide consistent production for the Bruins. The 6-9 forward has eight double figure scoring games this season. His basket with 1:07 left helped Belmont defeat UIC. He had nine points, five rebounds, and five assists vs. Northern Iowa Feb. 12. Rogers ranked among MVC leaders in offensive rebounding and blocked shots last season. He ranks 20^th nationally in 2-point field goal percentage. Rogers had a career-high 17 points and nine rebounds vs. Southern Illinois last season. The Woodstock, Georgia native is 20-for-26 from the field in four career games vs. Evansville.
 
Sam Orme ranks among the most versatile and consistent players in the MVC. The Carmel, Indiana native has 19 double figure scoring games this season, including a career-high 22 points vs. Drake Feb. 3 and 15 points vs. Northern Iowa Feb. 12. The forward had 12 points and 12 rebounds at UC Irvine. Orme has multiple 3-pointers in 15 games this season. Orme had the game-winning basket at Drake Jan. 10.

Nic McClain has been an important two-way player for Belmont this season. The Jennings, Florida native has eight double figure scoring games, and ranks among MVC leader 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 13 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. He has steals in nine of his last 11 games.
 
Isaiah West has been a mainstay for Belmont this season. The Springfield, Tennessee native has 85 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 and had a career-high eight assists vs. Illinois State. West had four points and three steals – including a huge driving basket with 1:26 left vs. Northern Iowa Feb. 12. He had a career-high seven rebounds and four assists vs. Indiana State.
 
Jack Smiley has keyed outstanding bench contributions this season. The Indiana native had a career-high 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals at Murray State Feb. 15. He recorded 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 made three straight 3-pointers in a 92-second span at Valparaiso and provided 14 points and three assists at Southern Illinois Jan. 17. He also provided the go-ahead basket vs. Northern Iowa Feb. 12. He has 10 double figure scoring games.
 
Eoin Dillon was named MVC Freshman of the Week for the third consecutive time Feb. 2. Dillon had a career-high 23 points at Valparaiso Jan. 28. He also played lead roles in numerous games during conference play, including 19 points at Murray State Feb. 15. The Peoria, Illinois native had 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 six games this season. Dillon had six points at Evansville earlier this season.
 
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 11 games this season.

Belmont ranks Top 50 nationally in 11 statistical categories, including first nationally in effective field goal percentage, 21^st nationally in field goal percentage defense, 25^th nationally in defensive rebounds per game, and 42^nd in bench points.
 
Evansville (6-22, 2-15 MVC) ranks third in the MVC in defensive foul rate. The Purple Aces lead the MVC in team height and lowest percentage of field goal attempts blocked.
 
Indiana State features a balanced team, with nine players who have scored in double figures. Evansville is led by freshman Bryce Quinet. The Scottsdale, Arizona native ranks among MVC leaders in minutes played and assist rate.
 
Belmont went 22-11 last season. The Bruins' 55 conference wins over the last three-plus seasons rank first in the MVC.
 
With 21 conference championships and 376 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 165 victories since the start of the 2020 season, ranking Top 20 nationally.
• 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's 477 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 three NCAA Division I head coaches to win 20 or more games in 10 consecutive seasons, joining Mark Few (Gonzaga), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), and Bill Self (Kansas). Dana Altman (Oregon) and Greg McDermott (Creighton) can join.
• 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).
 
Belmont legend Ben Sheppard is in his third season with the Indiana Pacers. Sheppard had a near triple-double vs. Evansville during his senior season.
 
This marks the 12^th meeting between Belmont and Evansville. Belmont won at Evansville earlier this season.

Tip-off is set for 6:30 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 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.
 
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