Men's Basketball Headlines MVC All-Conference Honors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Five Belmont University men's basketball players and head coach Casey Alexander were honored Wednesday as the Missouri Valley Conference announced its 2025-26 all-conference awards.
 
Tyler Lundblade was named recipient of the Larry Bird Trophy presented by Great Southern Bank, emblematic of the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. He was also named First Team All-MVC.
 
Drew Scharnowski was named First Team All-MVC and MVC All-Defensive Team, Sam Orme was named Second Team All-MVC, while Eoin Dillon and Jack Smiley were named MVC All-Freshman Team.
 
Belmont head coach Casey Alexander was named MVC Coach of the Year.
 
For Lundblade, being named MVC Player of the Year is the latest accomplishment in one of the great stories in college basketball. The only active player in college basketball to walk-on and earn a scholarship at three different schools (SMU, TCU, Belmont), Lundblade went from scoring eight total points in his first three seasons to develop into arguably the top 3-point shooter in the nation.
 
After leading the nation in 3-point field goal percentage and setting a Belmont NCAA Division I era single-season record with 104 3-point field goals, Lundblade eclipsed every measure even when drawing the attention of every opposing scouting report.
 
The Dallas, Texas native leads the MVC in five statistical categories, including 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goals per game, and minutes played. Lundblade ranks second nationally in free throw percentage (.934) and 3-point field goals (112), and sixth in 3-point field goals per game (3.61).
 
Only Honor Hoff of West Virginia has made more than Lundblade's 216 3-point field goals since the start of the 2024-25 season.
 
Lundblade has 28 double figure scoring games this season, scoring a career-high 31 points vs. Northern Iowa Feb. 12. He is a candidate for the Lou Henson Player of the Year Award and the E*TRADE Men's 3-Point Championship at the 2026 Men's Final Four.
 
Lundblade joins an illustrious list of Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year award recipients, including Bird, Antoine Carr, Xavier McDaniel, Hersey Hawkins, Kyle Korver, Doug McDermott, Fred VanVleet, A.J. Green, Cameron Krutwig, Tucker DeVries, and Bennett Stirtz.
 
He becomes the sixth Bruin of the NCAA Division I era to earn conference player of the year honors, joining Adam Sonn (2003), Alex Renfroe (2009), Ian Clark (2013), J.J. Mann (2014), and Evan Bradds (2016, 2017).
 
Scharnowski, who was named to the MVC Most-Improved Team Tuesday, was an integral part of Belmont's MVC regular season championship with his high-impact plays, relentless effort, and defensive versatility.
 
The Burlington, Illinois native ranks among league leaders in eight statistical categories, including scoring, rebounding, assists, blocked shots, field goal percentage, and usage rate. Scharnowski has posted 17 double figure scoring games, including four double-doubles.
 
For a four-week stretch from mid-December to mid-January, the forward averaged over 14 points and eight rebounds per game. He made the game-winning basket vs. Valparaiso Jan. 13 and nearly posted a triple-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists vs. Murray State Jan. 31. Scharnowski is averaging 10.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.
 
Orme delivered his poised, old-school game for Belmont, with consistent production and impact on both ends of the floor. The Carmel, Indiana native has posted 20 double figure scoring games, including a career-high 22 points vs. Drake Feb. 3 and a double-double at UC Irvine Dec. 19.
 
The forward also scored the game-winning basket at Drake Jan. 10. He ranks among league leaders in scoring, rebounding, and effective field goal percentage. Orme is on a select list in college basketball of players with at least 350 points, 100 rebounds, 50 assists, 40 3-point field goals, 25 steals, and 20 blocked shots. He was named MVC All-Freshman Team last season.
 
Smiley, who was named to the MVC All-Bench Team Tuesday, emerged as one of the most impactful guards in the MVC this season, as his efficient scoring and clutch performances were invaluable to Belmont success.
 
The Valparaiso, Indiana native ranks among league leaders in assists, assist-turnover ratio, and effective field goal percentage as he posted 12 double figure scoring games. Smiley was named 'Game MVP' by Ken Pomeroy three times during conference play, most notably for his game-changing efforts at Murray State and at Northern Iowa in victory.
 
He burst on the scene with 17 points in 13 minutes vs. Saint Francis Nov. 24. The 6-2 guard was named MVC Freshman of the Week as his 11 second-half points led Belmont to victory over UIC Dec. 13. Smiley is averaging 8.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.
 
Dillon was named MVC Freshman of the Week three consecutive weeks during late January and early February – believed to be the first Belmont player ever so honored. Dillon has 10 double figure scoring games this season, including 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 had the game-winning assist vs. Valparaiso Jan. 13. The 6-9 forward has made game-tying or go-ahead baskets in the final minutes of six games this season. Per CBB Analytics, Dillon is one of only three players in college basketball (minimum 300 minutes) to reach the exclusive 50/40/90 shooting splits of elite shooters.
 
Alexander led Belmont to a 13^th regular season conference championship over the last 21 seasons – only Gonzaga and Kansas have more conference championships (regular season and tournament) over that span.
 
Moreover, only Belmont, Houston, and Louisville have won men's basketball conference championships spanning three different leagues over the last two decades.
 
Alexander is one of only four coaches to win 20 or more games in 10 consecutive seasons, joining Mark Few (Gonzaga), Kelvin Sampson (Houston), and Bill Self (Kansas) [NOTE: Dana Altman and Greg McDermott can join].
 
Belmont leads the nation in effective field goal percentage (.614) and the Bruins' 13 road/neutral victories (11 true road) are third nationally behind Michigan and Miami (OH) – all with all-conference caliber point guard Nic McClain out for the majority of the season.
 
Since Alexander became head coach at Belmont prior to the 2019-20 season, Belmont's 166 victories rank 14^th nationally – among the likes of UConn, Purdue, Utah State, and Alabama, and ahead of the likes of Tennessee, Auburn, Creighton, and Baylor.
 
Alexander, who was named finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award Monday, was named Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year in 2019.
 
He has led two programs to automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament (Belmont, 2020; Lipscomb, 2018).
 
Alexander joins a list of MVC Coach of the Year award recipients that comprise many of the top all-time coaches in the game – including Henry Iba, Gene Bartow, Denny Crum, Lou Henson, Nolan Richardson, Eddie Fogler, Tubby Smith, Kevin Stallings, Dana Altman, Bruce Weber, Matt Painter, Porter Moser, Darian DeVries – current MVC coaching deans Ben Jacobson and Brian Wardle – as well as the previous two recipients, Josh Schertz and Ben McCollum.
 
Belmont (26-5) plays in the MVC quarterfinal round Friday at 12 p.m. CT from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
 
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, 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 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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