BASKETBALL GAME NOTES GAME SEVENTEEN • UT MARTIN • JANUARY 11, 2020 2019-20 SCHEDULE/RESULTS BRUIN SNAPSHOT Record: (11-5) Belmont Basketball returns to game action NOVEMBER Saturday at UT Martin. The Bruins defeated 6 at Illinois State (ESPN+) L, 72-79 Southeast Missouri, 89-64, Thursday. Belmont handed out 27 assists on 38 made field goals. 11 SAMFORD (ESPN+) W, 95-63 Belmont went 27-6 last season, earning the 1 16 at Boston College (ACCN) W, 100-85 program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament at-large bid 18 1HIGH POINT (ESPN+) W, 90-51 and tournament victory. In 2019, Belmont claimed its GAME SEVENTEEN 10th regular season conference championship in 14 20 at Lipscomb (ESPN+) W, 73-67 BELMONT 1 years, fifth in seven years of OVC membership. 23 at Saint Louis (FSMW) L, 55-60 1 Belmont is adjusting to life after the gradu- AT 26 at Eastern Washington (PlutoTV) L, 82-87 ation of All-OVC performers Dylan Windler and 30 at Middle Tennessee (Stadium) W, 71-59 Kevin McClain. Windler was selected 26th in the 2019 UT MARTIN DECEMBER NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, while McClain 3 LIPSCOMB (ESPN+) W, 80-75 played NBA Summer League with the Golden State Warriors before signing a contract in Germany. Date: January 11, 2020 11 CARSON-NEWMAN (ESPN+) W, 105-56 First-year head coach Casey Alexander Time: 4 p.m. CT 18 KENNESAW STATE (ESPN+) W, 83-44 takes the helm following the retirement of hall of 21 2vs. Alabama (SEC Network) L, 72-92 fame coach Rick Byrd. Byrd won 805 career games, Location: Martin, Tenn. 28 at Western Kentucky (Stadium) W, 79-62 12th all-time in college basketball history. This marks the 41st meeting between Arena: Elam Center JANUARY Belmont and UT Martin. TV: ESPN+ 2 *SIU EDWARDSVILLE (ESPN+) L, 69-79 Radio: Bruin Sports Network 4 *EASTERN ILLINOIS (ESPN+) W, 87-55 PROGRAM PROFILE 9 *at Southeast Missouri (ESPN+) W, 89-64 Kevin Ingram (play-by-play) 11 *at UT Martin (ESPN+) 4 p.m. • Belmont Basketball has won 20+ games and earned postseason play 13 of the last 14 years (including Greg Sage (color) 16 *EASTERN KENTUCKY (ESPNU) 8 p.m. 2018-19). That includes NCAA Tournament appear- Coaches: 18 *MOREHEAD STATE (ESPN+) 4 p.m. ances in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019. Belmont 23 *at Murray State (ESPN2) 6 p.m. • Belmont is one of only nine NCAA Division I pro- 25 *at Austin Peay (ESPN+) 4 p.m. grams to win 19 or more games 14 consecutive sea- Casey Alexander (Belmont, ‘95) 30 *at Tennessee Tech (ESPNU) 8 p.m. sons (BYU, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, San Diego State). Overall: 148-125 (9th year) FEBRUARY 1 *at Jacksonville State (ESPN+) 4 p.m. • Belmont enters the 2019-20 season as one of only at Belmont: 11-5 (1st year) 6 *MURRAY STATE (ESPN+) 6:30 p.m. six non-Power 5 programs to post a Top 100 RPI each UT Martin of the last nine seasons. 8 *AUSTIN PEAY (ESPN+) 5 p.m. Anthony Stewart (Mt. Union, ‘93) 13 *TENNESSEE STATE (ESPN+) 7 p.m. • Belmont has posted 270 conference wins since 2003 (includes tournament), second to Gonzaga. Overall: 49-62 (4th year) 15 *JACKSONVILLE STATE (ESPN+) 5 p.m. 20 *at Morehead State (ESPN+) 6 p.m. • Belmont has won 17 conference championships at UT Martin: Same 22 *at Eastern Kentucky (ESPN+) 6 p.m. (seven tournament, 10 regular season) since 2006. Series History: Only Gonzaga and Kansas have won more confer- 27 *TENNESSEE TECH (ESPN+) 7 p.m. ence championships over that span. 41st meeting; 20-20 29 *at Tennessee State (ESPN+) 7:30 p.m. MARCH • Belmont has made the most three-point field goals (8-0 NCAA) 3 in the nation since going from the NAIA to NCAA 4-7 OVC Championship (ESPN) TBD Division I in 1996-97 (Duke second). Streak: W8 1 - Gotham Classic (multiple sites) Last meeting: 2/28/19 at UTM 2 - Rocket City Classic (Huntsville, Ala.) • Since 2000-01, Belmont Basketball leads the nation 3 - OVC Tournament (Evansville, Ind.) in Academic All-Americans (17), which includes W, 112-67 * - Ohio Valley Conference Game Dylan Windler in 2018-19. [/] - Reflects national ranking AP/USA Today polls rv - Others receiving votes • Belmont is the only NCAA Division I men’s basket- All times Central ball program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Home games in BOLD CAPS Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year. PROBABLE STARTERS Belmont Bruins (11-5) Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown PPG RPG G 2 Grayson Murphy 6-2 175 SO Franklin, Tenn. 8.6 8.1 G 5 Adam Kunkel 6-3 165 SO Hebron, Ky. 17.1 2.4 G 24 Michael Benkert 6-4 200 SR Greenwood, Ind. 4.4 4.1 F 0 Tyler Scanlon 6-7 215 GR Centreville, Va. 11.9 5.3 C 33 Nick Muszynski 6-11 235 SO Pickerington, Ohio 15.8 6.3 BELMONT MEDIA RELATIONS G 1 Mitch Listau 6-4 185 FR Waunakee, Wis. 3.4 1.1 MBB Contact: Greg Sage, Assistant AD/Media Relations G 3 Luke Smith 6-0 175 JR Knoxville, Tenn. -- -- G 4 Garrett Suedekum 6-2 170 JR Brentwood, Tenn. 1.0 0.4 (O) 615.460.6698 F 10 Caleb Hollander 6-8 225 SO Nashville, Tenn. 4.2 1.7 (C) 615.512.3633 F 11 Michael Shanks 6-6 200 FR Bentonville, Ark. -- -- G 12 EJ Bellinger 6-4 195 FR St. Peters, Mo. 3.0 1.4 (F) 615.460.5584 G 14 Nick Hopkins 6-0 175 JR Fayetteville, Tenn. 6.7 1.8 (Email) [email protected] G 20 Tate Pierson 6-6 200 SO Brentwood, Tenn. 3.3 1.4 F 21 Derek Sabin 6-9 230 SO Slinger, Wis. -- -- www.belmontbruins.com/mbb1920mg G 22 Ben Sheppard 6-6 180 FR Atlanta, Ga. 3.6 2.3 F 42 Rilee Epley 6-4 195 FR Newburgh, Ind. -- -- @BelmontMBB C 50 Seth Adelsperger 6-11 230 SR Peru, Ind. 2.5 2.2 NCAA TOURNAMENT 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019 BELMONT UNIVERSITY 2019-20 MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME 17 • BELMONT AT UT MARTIN JANUARY 11, 2020 • ELAM CENTER • MARTIN, TENN. MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: GREG SAGE • [email protected] • 615.512.3633 BROADCASTER CHART 2019-20 Stats Career Highs • OVC POTW (12/30/19); 11-11-7-2stls at WKU PTS - 20 vs. WKU PPG RPG APG 2 • GRAYSON MURPHY • Belmont NCAA era record 16 assists at UT Martin REBS - 13 at Lipscomb SO • G • 6-2 • 175 • FRANKLIN, TENN. • Coach Alexander: “Grayson is a flat-out winner” 8.6 8.1 5.8 ASSTS - 16 at UT Martin • Preseason All-OVC; Top rebounding PG in America FG% 3FG% FT% STLS - *5 vs. C-N INDEPENDENCE HS • 2x Tennessean All-Midstate Team .487 .290 .500 MINS - *37 at TSU • ‘18 Redshirt; played in four games 2019-20 Stats Career Highs • Career-high 35 at BC; 28 points vs. Samford PTS - 35 at BC PPG RPG APG 5 • ADAM KUNKEL • Year-to-year scoring jump (+14.8); 5th OVC ppg REBS - *4 at SEMO 17.1 2.4 2.2 SO • G • 6-3 • 165 • HEBRON, KY. • ‘18 Kentucky Mr. Basketball Finalist ASSTS - 8 at SEMO • 2x OVC POTW FG% 3FG% FT% STLS - *3 vs. Alabama COOPER HS • Coach Alexander: “Adam plays with confidence” .446 .414 .826 MINS - 35 vs. SIUE • Huge lift in NCAA victory over Temple BENK-urt 2019-20 Stats Career Highs • Can defend 1-4; unsung hero of 2019 NCAA team PTS - 15 at WKU 24 • MICHAEL BENKERT • Strong, active wing; Career-high 15 at WKU PPG RPG APG REBS - *9 vs. Lipscomb SR • G • 6-4 • 200 • GREENWOOD, IND. • Back-to-back 3-pointers at Lipscomb, UCLA, Morehead 4.4 4.1 1.5 ASSTS - *4 at BC • Played HS for former Butler PG Zach Hahn FG% 3FG% FT% STLS - 2 vs. UT Martin CENTER GROVE HS • Coach Alexander: “Michael is central to what we do” .347 .275 1.000 MINS - 40 vs. Maryland • One of 7 children 2019-20 Stats Career Highs • 21 pts at SEMO; 20-8-1 vs. Alabama; 18-5-3 at WKU PTS - 28 vs. Lafayette 0 • TYLER SCANLON • 1024 pts & 158 3-pointers in 3 seasons at BostonU PPG RPG APG REBS - 11 at Colgate GR • F • 6-7 • 215 • CENTREVILLE, VA. • 1st grad transfer in Belmont history 11.9 5.3 3.1 ASSTS - 8 at Holy Cross • Virginia 6A state POTY in basketball & football (qb/wr) FG% 3FG% FT% STLS - 5 vs. Lehigh BOSTON UNIVERSITY • Coach Alexander: “Tyler is right guy at right time” .537 .431 .850 MINS - *39 vs. SIUE • Enrolled in Belmont MBA program mew-ZIN-skee 2019-20 Stats Career Highs • Preseason All-OVC; Nickname ‘Moose’ PTS - 30 at EWU PPG RPG APG 33 • NICK MUSZYNSKI • ‘19 Basketball Times Freshman All-American REBS - 16 vs. EIU 15.8 6.3 1.4 SO • C • 6-11 • 235 • PICKERINGTON, OHIO • Lou Henson Award Watch List ASSTS - *6 at Murray St • OVC POTW (12/2/19); 25-16-5-2blks vs. EIU FG% 3FG% FT% BLKS - *5 at Lipscomb ST. CHARLES PREP • Coach Alexander: “Nick wants to get better” .599 .407 .622 MINS - *33 at Illinois St • HS volleyball standout LISS-tao 2019-20 Stats Career Highs • ‘19; Redshirt; 2x AP Wisconsin All-State PTS - 11 vs. C-N 1 • MITCH LISTAU • 11-4-8 vs. Carson-Newman; 10-4-1 vs.