On Tuesday, the (11-6 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) Belmont Bruins and (6-11 SU, 4-12 ATS) Valparaiso Beacons will take the court at the Athletics-Recreation Center for Missouri Valley hoops on the hardwood. The Bruins, 4-2 in MVC play and 3-4 overall on the road, defeated Missouri State in their last game. The Beacons, 0-6 in conference competition and 5-3 at home, have lost four straight games. Belmont beat Valparaiso by 12 earlier this season at home.
Tip-off from Valparaiso, IN, is at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Bruins are 5.5-point favorites, and the game total is 140.5 points.
The Bruins have won two straight and five of their past six. They're currently tied with five other programs for second place in the MVC, sitting two games back of leader Indiana State. The Bruins were picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll.
In its win over Valparaiso on Dec. 1, Belmont led by six at the half and by as many as 15 points, shooting 26-of-60 (43.3%) overall and 15-of-34 (44.1%) from distance. The Bruins also outrebounded the Beacons 41-33 and recorded 18 assists on 26 made field goals.
In their most recent games vs. the Bears, they took the lead with about a minute remaining in the first half and never gave it back. Belmont extended its lead to 14 points with a 12-1 run in the second half and outscored Missouri State 37-26 after the break.
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Belmont defeats the Missouri State Bears in exciting matchup. @cade_tyson finished with 2?0? followed closely by @shepben2 with 1?7?!#ItsBruinTime pic.twitter.com/FwC8YUvulr
— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) January 8, 2023
The Bruins score 74.2 points per game and shoot 45.7 percent from the field. They're hitting 40.0 percent of their three-point attempts, the ninth-highest 3PT% in the nation. Belmont is 91st in schedule-adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
Senior guard Ben Sheppard paces the Bruins with 18.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Belmont also relies on strong play from freshman forward Cade Tyson (13.4 PPG and 4.6 RPG) and senior forward Drew Friberg (13.1 PPG and 3.6 RPG).
The Bruins give up 70.8 points, and their opponents shoot 45.0 percent, including 34.8 percent from three-point range. They're 331st nationally in rebounding margin (-4), 73rd in assist-per-turnover ratio (1.16), and 207th in schedule-adjusted defensive efficiency.