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2018-19 Belmont Men's Basketball Schedule

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - On the heels of a 12th 20-plus win season in the last 13 years, Belmont University men's basketball head coach Rick Byrd released the program's 2018-19 schedule Tuesday evening.

Having won 16 conference championships since 2006 – third-most nationally over that span behind only Kansas and Gonzaga – Belmont has earned a reputation as one of the most respected programs in the country.

Annually playing one of the nation's most demanding schedules – Belmont's 153 road/neutral victories over the last 13 years ranks top 10 nationally – the Bruins' slate features 11 contests against teams who received postseason invitations a year ago, including eight against RPI Top 100 programs.

"This is another demanding schedule for our basketball team, and it will be particularly difficult for a team that is as young as ours," Byrd said. "We have always felt that playing quality competition in the non-conference better prepares us for conference play. I think our home schedule is as attractive as it has ever been."

Belmont opens the season Nov. 10 hosting Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Illinois State. The Redbirds, who defeated South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Tulsa among others last season, returning their top three leading scorers, including MVC Player of the Year candidate Milik Yarbrough. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Illinois State head coach Dan Muller, who served 12 years as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt.

Two days later, Belmont welcomes Middle Tennessee to the Curb Event Center. The Blue Raiders, 25-8 in 2017-18, are led by first-year head coach Nick McDevitt. Belmont has won eight of the last 11 games in the series, including 69-63 last season in Murfreesboro.

The Bruins road opener is slated for Nov. 15 at Lipscomb. Like Illinois State, the Bisons are experienced and expected to challenge for their conference crown. Garrison Mathews and Rob Marberry spearhead the Lipscomb squad returning 91 percent of its offensive production from Casey Alexander's 23-win team.

Belmont heads to Thanksgiving with a fourth straight game in town, hosting Nashville neighbor Trevecca Nazarene Nov. 20. Perhaps the biggest storyline entering the game will be the return of former Belmont standout point guard Reece Chamberlain ('15), an assistant coach on the Trojan staff.

Three straight road games await the Bruins out of Turkey Day, beginning with former Atlantic Sun Conference foe Kennesaw State Nov. 24. The Owls, led by Al Skinner, hosted Belmont three years ago as part of the Legends Classic.

From there, a trip down I-65 beckons, and a date with another past Atlantic Sun Conference competitor, Samford. The Bulldogs and head coach Scott Padgett welcome Alabama transfer Brandon Austin, as the team appears poised to challenge in the Southern Conference.

December opens with a trip to the frozen tundra - literally - as Belmont will face Green Bay (Dec. 1) in the shadows of historic Lambeau Field. Former National Coach of the Year Linc Darner brings on six newcomers; the Bruins defeated the Phoenix, 86-75, last season.

Part two of the Battle of the Boulevard will take place Dec. 4 at the Curb Event Center. Belmont has won 11 of the last 13 meetings in the series.

Following semester exams, Belmont heads to the Golden State to face national power UCLA Dec. 15. The Bruins won 21 games last season and boast one of the nation's top incoming recruiting classes for head coach Steve Alford. The teams met in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. It marks the Bruins' first-ever trip to Pauley Pavilion.

Four days later, Belmont hosts Conference USA preseason favorite Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers went 27-11 in 2017-18, which included a trip to Madison Square Garden and the NIT Final Four. Belmont has won five straight games in the series, including an emotional 75-72 triumph last season in Bowling Green.

The non-conference schedule concludes Dec. 29 at Purdue. The Boilermakers were mainstays in the top 10 last season, going 30-7 under head coach Matt Painter. With Belmont sporting four players from the state of Indiana, it will be among the most highly-anticipated Power 5 contests in recent memory.

The 18-game Ohio Valley Conference schedule opens Jan. 3 vs. Jacksonville State. Dates with Tennessee Tech (Jan. 5), Morehead State (Jan. 10) and Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 12) follow as the Bruins' first four OVC games will be at home.

Road contests with JSU, Murray State and Austin Peay are sandwiched around a Jan. 19 meeting with Tennessee State. It will be the return of former Belmont standout point guard and TSU head coach Brian Collins ('06) to the Curb Event Center.

Six of Belmont's final eight OVC games will be on the road; Homecoming 2019 is slated for Feb. 23 vs. SIU Edwardsville.

A complete listing of home tip times and schedule of televised games will be released in the coming weeks.

On Monday, the Ohio Valley Conference announced an extension of its media rights' agreement with ESPN. All Belmont home and away league games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks and digital platforms.

For a 16th straight season, the live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network.

Byrd enters the 2018-19 season ranked fifth among all active (15th all-time) NCAA Division I head coaches in career victories with 778.

Belmont season tickets – which include the entire men's and women's basketball home schedule – are on sale now at belmontbruins.com/tickets. Belmont fans can call or TEXT 615.460.BALL (2255).

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

Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason 11 of the last 13 seasons, including seven automatic berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 16 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont is one of only six NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 RPIs eight consecutive seasons (BYU, Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont is one of only nine NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 13 consecutive seasons (BYU, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, San Diego State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 16 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is one of only three NCAA Division I programs to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence.