Men's Basketball Visits UIC Friday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont men's basketball returns to game action Friday at UIC.
 
Belmont (21-3, 11-2 MVC) defeated Drake Feb. 3 for its eighth consecutive victory. 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 in exclusive company as programs to win 20 or more games in 16 consecutive seasons (Kansas and Oregon can join).
 
The Bruins lead the nation in true road victories (9) and road/neutral victories (11).
 
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.
 
Annually one of the nation's top assist teams, Belmont leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 14^th nationally in assists per game (18.1). Belmont has nine games of 20 or more assists, including a season-high 26 assists vs. Saint Francis Nov. 24. The Bruins have 50 assists over their last two games. Remarkably, graduate student Nic McClain still ranks second in the MVC in assists (94) despite not having played since Jan. 1.
 
Belmont ranks first nationally in effective field goal percentage (61.1) – 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, North Carolina, Saint Louis, Louisville, and Missouri as one of nine programs to rank Top 30 nationally in 2-point field goal percentage offense and 2-point field goal percentage defense.
 
Belmont has posted a 110 offensive game rating per Ken Pomeroy in 16 of 24 games this season, ranking first in the MVC. For perspective, Illinois leads the nation in offensive efficiency at 130.9.
 
Annually one of the nation's top 3-point shooting teams, Belmont has outscored its opposition in points in the paint by a combined +322 points through 24 games. The Bruins have outscored 21 of 24 opponents in points in the paint, including College of Charleston and Middle Tennessee by +22 points each. Belmont outscored Drake, 42-34, in points in the paint Feb. 3.
 
Tyler Lundblade has 21 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 27 points vs. Murray State Jan. 31. The Dallas, Texas native was named to the Lou Henson Award early season watch list.

Drew Scharnowski has 14 double figure scoring games this season, including four double-doubles, and 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. He had a career-high 20 points and eight rebounds at Murray State last season. Scharnowski also had eight assists at Valparaiso. He had 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots vs. UIC Dec. 13.
 
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 leads the MVC and ranks 30^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 had seven rebounds at Drake Jan. 10.
 
Sam Orme ranks among the most versatile and consistent players in the MVC. The Carmel, Indiana native has 16 double figure scoring games this season, including a career-high 22 points vs. Drake Feb. 3. The forward had 12 points and 12 rebounds at UC Irvine. Orme has multiple 3-pointers in 13 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 second in the MVC 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, including seven of his last 10 games. 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 80 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.
 
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 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 scored 11 points vs. UIC Dec. 13.
 
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 vs. Illinois State, at Southern Illinois, and vs. Murray State. 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 has posted double figure scoring in eight of his last 12 games dating back to Dec. 19.
 
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 10 games this season.

Belmont ranks Top 50 nationally in 10 statistical categories, including first nationally in effective field goal percentage, 20^th nationally in field goal percentage defense, 29^th nationally in defensive rebounds per game, and 14^th nationally in assists per game.
 
UIC (13-11, 8-5 MVC) ranks Top 3 in the MVC in 11 statistical categories, including first in offensive rebounds per game, and second in blocked shots and fast break points. The Flames won eight consecutive games before an 81-74 setback at Murray State Feb. 3.
 
UIC is led by Ahmad Henderson. The Chicago native ranks among league leaders in scoring and is third in the MVC in usage rate. Henderson has 19 double figure scoring games this season, including 20 points at Murray State Feb. 3.
 
Belmont went 22-11 last season. The Bruins' 51  conference wins over the last three-plus seasons rank third in the MVC.
 
With 20 conference championships and 372 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 161 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 473 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 seventh meeting between Belmont and UIC. Belmont won, 87-84, Dec. 13 in Nashville.

Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT from Credit Union 1 Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU 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 16 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga; Kansas, and Oregon) 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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