The Belmont Bruins (9-6, 2-2 MVC) continue their Missouri Valley Conference schedule on the road Wednesday when paying a visit to Chicago, Illinois and Credit Union 1 Arena to play the UIC Flames (9-6, 1-3 MVC). Belmont was defeated by Southern Illinois 63-45 on Sunday, snapping a three-game winning streak for the Bruins. UIC was defeated by Bradley 79-45 on Saturday and the Flames have lost two of the last three. Belmont and UIC do not have any players listed on their injury reports.
The Belmont Bruins are allowing an average of 71.5 points per game. Opponents are shooting 45.5% overall and 35.0% from three-point territory against the Bruins defense. Belmont is averaging only 30.2 rebounds per game and allowing an average of 32.8 boards per contest. The leading rebounder for Belmont is Ben Sheppard with an average of 4.7 boards per contest. Ja’Kobi Gillespie is the leader in steals with an average of 1.8 per game and Even Brauns is the leader in blocked shots with an average of 1.1 swats per contest. Belmont is averaging 7.6 steals and 3.1 blocked shots per game.
Belmont is scoring an average of 74.1 points per game while shooting 45.7% overall and an impressive 40.0% from behind the three-point line which is 11th best in the country. Sheppard is the leading scorer for Belmont with an average of 18.1 points per game, while shooting 45.2% overall and 39.2% from behind the line. Cade Tyson is the second leading scorer with an average of 13.4 points per game and shoots 45.7% overall and 42.3% from long range. Sheppard is the dish leader with an average of 3.5 assists per game. Belmont averages 14.9 assists and 12.0 turnovers per contest.