BASKETBALL GAME NOTES GAME TWENTY • MURRAY STATE • JANUARY 18, 2018 2017-18 SCHEDULE/RESULTS BRUIN SNAPSHOT Record: (13-6) Belmont Basketball returns to game action NOVEMBER Thursday vs. Murray State. Belmont defeated Eastern 2 (EX) at Trevecca Nazarene W, 91-64 Illinois, 75-66, Jan. 13. Junior Dylan Windler scored a 10 1at Washington (Pac-12 Networks) L, 82-86 career-high 25 points for the Bruins. Belmont is adjusting to life after Evan 13 VANDERBILT (Facebook LIVE) W, 69-60 Bradds, as the ultra-efficient forward graduated in GAME TWENTY 16 at [rv/--] Middle Tennessee (Facebook LIVE) W, 69-63 2017. Bradds scored 1,921 career points, ranks fourth MURRAY STATE 18 1HOUSTON BAPTIST (OVCDN) W, 93-88 in NCAA history in field goal percentage (.667), and 19 1SEATTLE (OVCDN) W, 90-77 led Belmont to four consecutive OVC championships. at 1 Belmont has led the nation in two-point field goal 22 at [rv/rv] Providence (FS1) L, 65-66 BELMONT 27 LIPSCOMB (OVCDN) L, 66-74 percentage four of the last five seasons. The Bruins went 23-7 last season, winning 29 at [23/rv] TCU (FS Southwest) L, 76-87 the Ohio Valley Conference, and return nine letter- Date: January 18, 2018 DECEMBER winners, including senior point guard Austin Luke. 2 GREEN BAY (OVCDN) W, 86-75 The Rowlett, Texas native is the nation’s leading Time: 6 p.m. CT returning assist man, averaging 7.1 assists per game 4 at Lipscomb (ESPN3) L, 54-69 Location: Nashville, Tenn. 13 MILWAUKEE (OVCDN) W, 82-63 last season. Luke, and forward Amanze Egekeze, Arena: 16 PEPPERDINE (OVCDN) W, 79-62 were named Preseason All-OVC. Curb Event Center (5,000) This marks the 13th meeting between TV: ESPNU/ESPN app 19 at Western Kentucky (Fox College Sports) W, 75-72 Belmont and Murray State. 28 *at Southeast Missouri (OVCDN) W, 94-72 Dave LaMont (play-by-play) 30 *at UT Martin (OVCDN) W, 65-58 PROGRAM PROFILE Adrian Branch (color) JANUARY 4 *TENNESSEE TECH (OVCDN) W, 80-67 • Belmont Basketball has won 20+ games and earned Radio: Bruin Sports Network postseason play 11 of the last 12 years (including 6 *JACKSONVILLE STATE (OVCDN) L, 60-64 2016-17). That includes NCAA Tournament appear- Kevin Ingram (play-by-play) 11 *at SIU Edwardsville (FS Midwest) W, 76-61 ances in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015. Scott Speedy (color) 13 *at Eastern Illinois (OVCDN) W, 75-66 • Head Coach Rick Byrd is in his 32nd season at Coaches: 18 *MURRAY STATE (ESPNU) 6 p.m. Belmont. He ranks fifth among all active NCAA 20 *AUSTIN PEAY (WUXP-TV) 5 p.m. Division I head coaches in career wins (767). Murray State 25 *EASTERN ILLINOIS (OVCDN) 7 p.m. Matt McMahon (App State, ‘00) • Belmont has posted 240 conference wins since 2003 27 *SIU EDWARDSVILLE (OVCDN) 5 p.m. (includes tournament), second to Kansas. Overall: 46-35 (3rd year) FEBRUARY 1 *at Eastern Kentucky (OVCDN) 7 p.m. • Belmont has won 16 conference championships at Murray State: Same (seven tournament, nine regular season) since 2006. 3 *at Morehead State (OVCDN) 3 p.m. Only Kansas and Gonzaga have won more confer- Belmont 8 *at Tennessee State (OVCDN) 7:30 p.m. ence championships over that span. Rick Byrd (Tennessee, ‘76) 10 *at Tennessee Tech (WCTE-TV) 7:30 p.m. • Belmont enters the 2017-18 season as one of only Overall: 767-392 (37th year) 15 *EASTERN KENTUCKY (OVCDN) 7 p.m. seven non-Power 5 programs to post a Top 100 RPI 17 *MOREHEAD STATE (CBSSN) 7 p.m. each of the last seven seasons. at Belmont: 675-337 (32nd year) 22 *at Jacksonville State (ESPNU) 8 p.m. Series History: • Belmont has made the second-most three-point 24 *TENNESSEE STATE (WUXP-TV) 5 p.m. field goals in the nation since going from the NAIA to 13th meeting; 6-6 (5-2 OVC) 28 2vs. OVC First Round (OVCDN) TBD NCAA Division I in 1996-97 (Duke). Streak: W3 MARCH 2 • Since 2000-01, Belmont Basketball leads the nation 1 vs. OVC Quarterfinal (OVCDN) TBD in Academic All-Americans (15), which includes Evan Last meeting: 2/2/17 at MUR 2 2 vs. OVC Semifinal (ESPNU) TBD Bradds in 2016-17. W, 81-69 3 2vs. OVC Championship (ESPN2) TBD • Belmont is one of only three NCAA Division I pro- grams to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year. *-Ohio Valley Conference Game 1-2K Classic Benefiting WWP (Multiple Sites) 2-OVC Basketball Championship (Evansville, Ind.) PROBABLE STARTERS Belmont Bruins (13-6) [/] - Reflects national ranking AP/USA Today polls Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown PPG RPG rv - Others receiving votes G 1 Austin Luke 6-3 200 SR Rowlett, Texas 7.8 2.4 All times Central G 11 Kevin McClain 6-2 180 JR Jennings, Fla. 12.3 4.0 Home games in BOLD CAPS G/F 3 Dylan Windler 6-7 195 JR Indianapolis, Ind. 16.5 9.2 F 32 Amanze Egekeze 6-8 220 SR Lake in the Hills, Ill. 17.6 6.3 BELMONT MEDIA RELATIONS F 25 Mack Mercer 6-9 230 JR Plymouth, Ind. 6.4 3.1 MBB Contact: Greg Sage, Assistant AD/Media Relations G 0 Michael Mayernick 5-8 150 FR Nashville, Tenn. -- -- G 2 Grayson Murphy 6-1 170 FR Thompson’s Station, Tenn. 4.5 1.5 (O) 615.460.6698 F 10 Caleb Hollander 6-8 230 FR Nashville, Tenn. 1.9 1.1 (C) 615.512.3633 G 14 Nick Hopkins 5-11 160 FR Fayetteville, Tenn. 7.9 2.2 (F) 615.460.5584 G 20 Tate Pierson 6-5 180 FR Brentwood, Tenn. -- -- G 21 Burton Sampson 6-4 195 SR Knoxville, Tenn. 1.2 0.7 (Email) [email protected] G 24 Michael Benkert 6-4 195 SO Greenwood, Ind. 0.8 0.3 www.belmontbruins.com C 33 Nick Muszynski 6-10 220 FR Pickerington, Ohio -- -- C 41 Tyler Hadden 6-10 240 SR Cincinnati, Ohio 1.7 1.0 @BelmontMBB C 50 Seth Adelsperger 6-11 225 SO Peru, Ind. 2.2 1.4 NCAA TOURNAMENT 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 BELMONT UNIVERSITY 2017-18 MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME 20 • MURRAY STATE AT BELMONT JANUARY 18, 2018 • CURB EVENT CENTER • NASHVILLE, TENN. MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: GREG SAGE • [email protected] • 615.512.3633 BROADCASTER CHART 2017-18 Stats Career Highs • 1st OVC, 2nd NCAA in assists per game (7.1) in ‘17 PTS - 26 vs. Seattle PPG RPG APG 1 • AUSTIN LUKE • 9th NCAA in assists per game in ‘18 REBS - 8 at Arizona St SR • G • 6-3 • 200 • ROWLETT, TEXAS • ‘17 First Team All-OVC; ‘18 Preseason All-OVC 7.8 2.4 7.2 ASSTS - 13 at Morehead • Coach Byrd: “Austin sees passes others don’t” FG% 3FG% FT% STLS - *3 at Providence ROWLETT HS • Career-high 26 pts vs. Seattle .407 .375 .824 MINS - 39 at Murray St • OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll 2017-18 Stats Career Highs • Dynamic combo guard PTS - 27 vs. Houston Baptist PPG RPG APG 11 •KEVIN MCCLAIN • Had 2 4-pt plays in college debut @ Marquette REBS - 11 at SIUE JR • G • 6-2 • 180 • JENNINGS, FLA. • Coach Byrd: “Kevin can make exciting plays” 12.3 4.0 1.7 ASSTS - 6 at SIUE • Career-high 27 pts vs. Houston Baptist FG% 3FG% FT% STLS - 5 vs. JSU HAMILTON COUNTY HS • 2K Classic Nashville Subregional MVP .455 .337 .724 MINS - 38 at Lipscomb • One of 8 children 2017-18 Stats Career Highs • Long, athletic wing; Michael Phelps’ wingspan PTS - 25 at EIU 3 • DYLAN WINDLER • OVC leader in rebounding PPG RPG APG REBS - *14 vs. Houston Baptist JR • G/F • 6-7 • 195 • INDIANAPOLIS, IND. • Career-high 25 pts at Eastern Illinois 16.5 9.2 2.4 ASSTS - *5 vs. Houston Baptist • Coach Byrd: “Dylan has high basketball IQ” FG% 3FG% FT% BLKS - 4 vs. Morehead PERRY MERIDIAN HS • 10 double-doubles this season; OVC POTW .562 .407 .744 MINS - *40 vs. JSU • Decorated HS golfer; regularly shoots in 70s uh-MAHN-zay egg-uh-KAY-zay 2017-18 Stats Career Highs • Quiet confidence; three-year returning starter PTS - 32 vs. Milwaukee PPG RPG APG 32 • AMANZE EGEKEZE • 54 career double figure scoring games REBS - 14 at Milwaukee 17.6 6.3 1.0 SR • F • 6-8 • 220 • LAKE IN THE HILLS, ILL. • Coach Byrd: “Amanze is our most complete player” ASSTS - *4 at TCU • ‘18 Preseason All-OVC FG% 3FG% FT% BLKS - *3 vs. TSU HUNTLEY HS • 24 & 5 at MTSU; 22 & 7 vs. Vanderbilt; 29 at SIUE .516 .417 .813 MINS - 40 at EIU • Led Belmont in plus/minus in ‘16 & ‘17 2017-18 Stats Career Highs • Injury plagued first three seasons; Redshirt ‘17 PTS - 20 at Cleveland St PPG RPG APG 25 • MACK MERCER • One of the most skilled bigs ever at Belmont REBS - 10 at Cleveland St 6.4 3.1 0.9 JR • F • 6-9 • 230 • PLYMOUTH, IND. • Made big splash in ‘15 NCAA Tournament vs. UVA ASSTS - *3 at UT Martin • Season-high 19 pts vs. Green Bay; 13 & 9 at WKU FG% 3FG% FT% BLKS - *2 at UT Martin PLYMOUTH, IND. • Coach Byrd: “Mack is an X-factor for us” .467 .240 .750 MINS - 28 at MTSU • 2014 Indiana All-State 2017-18 Stats Career Highs • Walk-on, Nickname ‘Mo’ PTS - -- 0 • MICHAEL MAYERNICK • 2x Tennessee All-Region PPG RPG APG REBS - -- FR • G • 5-8 • 150 • NASHVILLE, TENN.