BASKETBALL GAME NOTES GAME TWELVE • ALABAMA • DECEMBER 21, 2019 2019-20 SCHEDULE/RESULTS BRUIN SNAPSHOT Record: (8-3) Belmont Basketball returns to game action NOVEMBER Saturday vs. Alabama in the 2019 Rocket City Classic. The Bruins defeated Kennesaw State, 83-44, 6 at Illinois State (ESPN+) L, 72-79 Wednesday. Sophomore Adam Kunkel scored a 11 SAMFORD (ESPN+) W, 95-63 game-high 24 points. Belmont traveled 8,449 miles 1 during the month of November. 16 at Boston College (ACCN) W, 100-85 Belmont went 27-6 last season, earning the 18 1HIGH POINT (ESPN+) W, 90-51 program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament at-large bid GAME TWELVE 20 at Lipscomb (ESPN+) W, 73-67 and tournament victory. In 2019, Belmont claimed its 10th regular season conference championship in 14 BELMONT 23 1at Saint Louis (FSMW) L, 55-60 years, fifth in seven years of OVC membership. VS. 26 1at Eastern Washington (PlutoTV) L, 82-87 Belmont is adjusting to life after the gradu- ation of All-OVC performers Dylan Windler and ALABAMA 30 at Middle Tennessee (Stadium) W, 71-59 Kevin McClain. Windler was selected 26th in the 2019 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: December 21, 2019 11 CARSON-NEWMAN (ESPN+) W, 105-56 First-year head coach Casey Alexander 18 KENNESAW STATE (ESPN+) W, 83-44 takes the helm following the retirement of hall of Time: 2:30 p.m. CT 2 fame coach Rick Byrd. Byrd won 805 career games, 21 vs. Alabama (SEC Network) 2:30 p.m. 12th all-time in college basketball history. Location: Huntsville, Ala. 28 at Western Kentucky (Stadium) 6:30 p.m. This marks the second meeting between Arena: Von Braun Center JANUARY Belmont and Alabama; the Bruins won in Tuscaloosa, 85-83, Nov. 19, 2007. TV: SEC Network/ESPN app 2 *SIU EDWARDSVILLE (ESPN+) 7 p.m. Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) 4 *EASTERN ILLINOIS (ESPN+) 4 p.m. PROGRAM PROFILE 9 *at Southeast Missouri (ESPN+) 7:15 p.m. Dane Bradshaw (color) 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 Radio: Bruin Sports Network 16 *EASTERN KENTUCKY (ESPNU) 8 p.m. 2018-19). That includes NCAA Tournament appear- Kevin Ingram (play-by-play) 18 *MOREHEAD STATE (ESPN+) 4 p.m. ances in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019. Greg Sage (color) 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- Coaches: 30 *at Tennessee Tech (ESPNU) 8 p.m. sons (BYU, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, San Diego State). Belmont FEBRUARY 1 *at Jacksonville State (ESPN+) 4 p.m. • Belmont enters the 2019-20 season as one of only Casey Alexander (Belmont, ‘95) 6 *MURRAY STATE (ESPN+) 6:30 p.m. six non-Power 5 programs to post a Top 100 RPI each Overall: 145-123 (9th year) of the last nine seasons. 8 *AUSTIN PEAY (ESPN+) 5 p.m. at Belmont: 8-3 (1st year) 13 *TENNESSEE STATE (ESPN+) 7 p.m. • Belmont has posted 268 conference wins since 2003 (includes tournament), second to Gonzaga. Alabama 15 *JACKSONVILLE STATE (ESPN+) 5 p.m. 20 *at Morehead State (ESPN+) 6 p.m. • Belmont has won 17 conference championships Nate Oats (Marantha Bapt., ‘98) 22 *at Eastern Kentucky (ESPN+) 6 p.m. (seven tournament, 10 regular season) since 2006. Overall: 101-48 (5th year) Only Gonzaga and Kansas have won more confer- 27 *TENNESSEE TECH (ESPN+) 7 p.m. ence championships over that span. at Alabama: 5-5 (1st year) 29 *at Tennessee State (ESPN+) 7:30 p.m. MARCH • Belmont has made the most three-point field goals Series History: 3 in the nation since going from the NAIA to NCAA 4-7 OVC Championship (ESPN) TBD Division I in 1996-97 (Duke second). Second meeting; 1-0 1 - Gotham Classic (multiple sites) Streak: W1 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 Last meeting: 11/19/07 at ALA * - Ohio Valley Conference Game Dylan Windler in 2018-19. [/] - Reflects national ranking AP/USA Today polls W, 85-83 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 (8-3) Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown PPG RPG G 2 Grayson Murphy 6-2 175 SO Franklin, Tenn. 8.5 8.3 G 5 Adam Kunkel 6-3 165 SO Hebron, Ky. 19.1 2.6 G 24 Michael Benkert 6-4 200 SR Greenwood, Ind. 4.6 4.6 F 0 Tyler Scanlon 6-7 215 GR Centreville, Va. 9.5 5.0 C 33 Nick Muszynski 6-11 235 SO Pickerington, Ohio 15.4 5.0 BELMONT MEDIA RELATIONS G 1 Mitch Listau 6-4 185 FR Waunakee, Wis. 3.8 1.4 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 0.6 (O) 615.460.6698 F 10 Caleb Hollander 6-8 225 SO Nashville, Tenn. 2.9 1.2 (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. 3.4 1.6 (F) 615.460.5584 G 14 Nick Hopkins 6-0 175 JR Fayetteville, Tenn. 7.3 1.5 (Email) [email protected] G 20 Tate Pierson 6-6 200 SO Brentwood, Tenn. 3.9 1.6 F 21 Derek Sabin 6-9 230 SO Slinger, Wis. -- -- www.belmontbruins.com/mbb1920mg G 22 Ben Sheppard 6-6 180 FR Atlanta, Ga. 4.5 2.6 F 42 Rilee Epley 6-4 195 FR Newburgh, Ind. -- -- @BelmontMBB C 50 Seth Adelsperger 6-11 230 SR Peru, Ind. 2.4 2.1 NCAA TOURNAMENT 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019 BELMONT UNIVERSITY 2019-20 MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME 12 • BELMONT VS. ALABAMA DECEMBER 21, 2019 • VON BRAUN CENTER • HUNTSVILLE, ALA. MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: GREG SAGE • [email protected] • 615.512.3633 BROADCASTER CHART 2019-20 Stats Career Highs • 12-13-5 at Lipscomb; 9-8-6-2stls at BC 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” 8.5 8.3 5.5 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 .464 .292 .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 • Biggest year-to-year scoring jump in the nation (+16.8) REBS - *4 at C-N 19.1 2.6 1.9 SO • G • 6-3 • 165 • HEBRON, KY. • ‘18 Kentucky Mr. Basketball Finalist ASSTS - 4 at EWU • 2x OVC POTW FG% 3FG% FT% STLS - 3 vs. Trevecca COOPER HS • Coach Alexander: “Adam plays with confidence” .490 .458 .833 MINS - *34 vs. Lipscomb • 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 - 13 vs. SIUE 24 • MICHAEL BENKERT • Strong, active wing; 10-1-4 at BC; 8-9-3 vs. Lipscomb PPG RPG APG REBS - *9 vs. Lipscomb SR • G • 6-4 • 200 • GREENWOOD, IND. • Back-to-back 3-pointers at Lipscomb, UCLA, Morehead 4.6 4.6 1.8 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” .352 .250 1.000 MINS - 40 vs. Maryland • One of 7 children 2019-20 Stats Career Highs • 14-5-3-2stls vs. Samford; 13-6-6 vs. Lipscomb 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 9.5 5.0 3.3 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” .500 .361 .909 MINS - 39 vs. Holy Cross • 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 - 11 vs. Lipscomb 15.4 5.0 1.0 SO • C • 6-11 • 235 • PICKERINGTON, OHIO • Lou Henson Award Watch List ASSTS - *6 at Murray St • OVC POTW (12/2/19) FG% 3FG% FT% BLKS - *5 at Lipscomb ST. CHARLES PREP • Coach Alexander: “Nick wants to get better” .591 .400 .500 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.