Men's Basketball Releases Non-Conference Schedule - Belmont University (2024)

Men's Basketball 8/28/2024 8:30:00 AM

Bruins Face Collection of Tradition-Rich Programs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - On the heels of a 14^th consecutive 20-win season, Belmont University men's basketball head coach Casey Alexander released the program's 2024-25 non-conference schedule Wednesday.

The schedule features a collection of tradition-rich programs and returning postseason teams as the Bruins enter year three in the nationally-regarded Missouri Valley Conference – ranked as the No. 9 conference in America in 2023-24.

In all, Belmont will have the chance to play up to 13 games against Q1/Q2 opposition based on the 2023-24 official NET rankings.

?? @CaseyAlexander_ visits with @landen_secrest to discuss the non-conference schedule#ItsBruinTime https://t.co/ooEpRg585G pic.twitter.com/vnbkBr9IGO

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— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) August 28, 2024

"Securing a non-conference schedule is always challenging, and this year was no exception," Alexander said. "We are excited about where it landed."

Belmont opens the season Monday, Nov. 4 vs. Maryville College. The Scots went 22-5 last season and won the CCS conference tournament championship.

Four days later, the Bruins welcome Southern Conference contender Furman to the Curb Event Center. Belmont point guard Carter Whitt will get the opportunity to face his former team, as the Raleigh, North Carolina native spent the last two seasons with the Paladins.

The 2021 Belmont-Furman meeting at the Curb was unforgettable, as Grayson Murphy and Luke Smith led the Bruins to a dramatic victory.

The highly-anticipated Battle of the Boulevard game with Lipscomb is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Lipscomb. Belmont has won 18 of the last 21 meetings.

The Bruins defeated Lipscomb, 72-71, last year behind Ja'Kobi Gillespie's 3-point play and Brigham Rogers' blocked shot in the final seconds.

This year marks the 151^st meeting of Nashville's longstanding series.

From there, Belmont heads to the Centennial State Nov. 15 to take on Air Force. The Falcons defeated the likes of New Mexico and UNLV last season in Mountain West conference play.

Belmont then welcomes another program with postseason pedigree – Oral Roberts – to the Curb Event Center Nov. 19. The Golden Eagles won the Summit League in 2021 and 2023.

Belmont will head to Mexico as part of the 2024 Cancún Challenge. The Bruins will play Loyola Marymount Nov. 26. The Lions were named as a Top 5 preseason Mid-Major by hall of fame broadcaster Dick Vitale. This marks Belmont's first meeting with a West Coast Conference program since defeating Pepperdine in Dec. 2017.

The Bruins will then face Tulane or Wyoming Wednesday, Nov. 27. Tulane has proven formidable in the American Athletic Conference while Wyoming earned an NCAA Tournament at-large bid in 2022 from the Mountain West Conference.

Belmont will host Gardner-Webb Nov. 29 at the Curb Event Center as part of the Cancún Challenge. A former conference foe during the ASUN era, the Runnin' Bulldogs finished third in the Big South Conference last season.

Following the start of Missouri Valley Conference play - slated for early December - Belmont hosts area rival Middle Tennessee Dec. 7 – as part of an exciting men's and women's basketball doubleheader at the Curb Event Center.

Belmont has won 11 of the last 15 meetings vs. Middle Tennessee. Junior Isaiah Walker had a then career-high 11 points and six rebounds in last season's victory.

High-level competition continues Dec. 14 at defending Atlantic 10 Conference champion Richmond. The Spiders won 23 games last season. This will also be a reunion game for Belmont junior Aidan Noyes, who spent the previous three seasons at Richmond.

The Bruins and Spiders last played Nov 11, 2013.

Non-conference concludes Dec. 19 as Belmont hosts defending Big West Conference champion and perennial Top 100 program UC Irvine. The Anteaters won 24 games last season and faced Utah in the Postseason NIT.

"Fans will continue to see some local rivals, but also get a chance to see several new opponents in the coming years," Alexander added. "New series with Richmond, UC Irvine, Oral Roberts and Air Force will provide quality competition and great experiences for our players."

The complete 2024-25 schedule - including Missouri Valley Conference opponents, dates, times and television - will be released in the future.

For a fourthstraight season, the live play-by-play of CBS Nashville sports anchor andVoice of the BruinsSteve Layman can be heard on Belmont Bruins Radio and ESPN+.

Belmont season tickets – which include the entire men's and women's basketball home schedule – are on sale now atbelmontbruins.com/tickets.

To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 orrussell.grimm@belmont.edu.

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 14 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and Oregon) and 19 or more games in 19 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 five 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 nine consecutive seasons.