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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – – Belmont men’s basketball returns to game action Wednesday at Valparaiso.
Belmont (18-3, 8-2 MVC) defeated Illinois State, 80-69, Jan. 24 for its fifth consecutive victory. Belmont joined USC as the only opponents to defeat Illinois State by double figures this season.
The Bruins lead the nation in true road victories (8) and road/neutral victories (10).
Annually one of the nation’s top assist teams, Belmont leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 25th nationally in assists per game (17.8). Belmont has seven games of 20 or more assists, including a season-high 26 assists vs. Saint Francis Nov. 24. Remarkably, graduate student Nic McClain still leads the MVC in assists (94) despite not having played since Jan. 1.
Belmont ranks third nationally in effective field goal percentage (60.3) – which accounts for 2-point and 3-point field goal attempts. Belmont and Saint Louis 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, Louisville, and Saint Louis as one of four programs to rank Top 10 nationally in 2-point field goal percentage offense and 2-point field goal percentage defense.
Belmont has posted a 115 offensive game rating per Ken Pomeroy in 12 of 20 games this season, ranking second in the MVC. For perspective, Illinois leads the nation in offensive efficiency at 126.9.
Annually one of the nation’s top 3-point shooting teams, Belmont has outscored its opposition in points in the paint by a combined +318 points through 21 games. The Bruins have outscored 20 of 21 opponents in points in the paint, including College of Charleston and Middle Tennessee by +22 points each. Belmont outscored Illinois State, 36-24, in points in the paint Jan. 24.
Tyler Lundblade has 18 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 six statistical categories, including 3-point field goals made and minutes per game. He made seven 3-point field goals at Valparaiso last season. The Dallas, Texas native was named to the Lou Henson Award early season watch list.
Drew Scharnowski has 12 double figure scoring games this season, including three double-doubles. He had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals at Drake. 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.
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 had seven points, three rebounds, and four assists vs. Illinois State. Rogers had a career-high 17 points and nine rebounds vs. Southern Illinois last season. The Woodstock, Georgia native had six points and three assists vs. Valparaiso earlier this season.
Sam Orme ranks among the most versatile and consistent players in the MVC. The Carmel, Indiana native has 15 double figure scoring games this season, including a career-high 21 points vs. Air Force. The forward had 12 points and 12 rebounds at UC Irvine. Orme has multiple 3-pointers in 12 games this season. Orme did not play at Valparaiso last season.
Nic McClain has been an important two-way player for Belmont this season. The Jennings, Florida native has eight double figure scoring games, and leads the MVC and ranks 20th nationally 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 11 double figure scoring games this season, including five of his last seven 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 77 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 scored 11 points vs. Valparaiso Jan. 13 and provided 14 points and three assists at Southern Illinois Jan. 17. Smiley is a native of Valparaiso, Indiana.
Eoin Dillon was named MVC Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive time Jan. 26. Dillon had a game-high 16 points vs. Illinois State after posting a team-high and career-high 18 points at Southern Illinois Jan. 17. 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 five games this season. Dillon has posted double figure scoring in six of his last nine 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 nine games this season.
Belmont ranks Top 50 nationally in nine statistical categories, including third nationally in effective field goal percentage, seventh nationally in field goal percentage defense, 11th nationally in defensive rebounds per game, and 24th nationally in assists per game.
Valparaiso (10-10, 4-5 MVC) defeated Southern Illinois, 69-63, Jan. 21 in its last game. The Beacons lead the MVC and rank 32nd nationally in offensive free throw reliance. Valparaiso is averaging over 24 free throw attempts per MVC game. Belmont ranks second in the MVC and 36th nationally at defending without fouling per Ken Pomeroy.
Valparaiso is led by Owen Dease. The Evansville, Indiana native has posted 12 double figure scoring games. He has five games of 20 or more points in MVC play, leading the conference in scoring in league games at 18.2 points per game. Dease spent his first four seasons at Texas A&M-Corus Christi.
Belmont went 22-11 last season. The Bruins’ 48 conference wins over the last three-plus seasons rank third in the MVC.
With 20 conference championships and 369 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 158 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 470 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 20th meeting between Belmont and Valparaiso. Belmont has won eight of the last nine meetings in the series, including 78-74 Jan. 13 in Nashville.
Belmont’s historic first MVC win was vs. Valparaiso, Dec. 1, 2022 at the Curb Event Center.
Belmont guard Jack Smiley is a native of Valparaiso, Indiana. He averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game as a junior for Valparaiso High School before attending La Lumiere for his senior season.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT from the Athletics-Recreation Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ 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 [email protected].
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 15 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and Oregon) and 19 or more games in 20 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.
How to Follow
Follow Belmont men’s basketball on social media – @BelmontMBB on X, formerly Twitter and @belmont_mbb on Instagram – for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont’s athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
