Belmont’s Ben Sheppard Named MVC Player Of The Week

Ben Sheppard. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Belmont University men’s basketball senior Ben Sheppard has been named Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Player of the Week, after having brilliant performances against Trevecca Nazarene and MTSU.

Sheppard averaged 24.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game on 58 percent shooting last week. He led the Bruins to a 83-53 win against Trevecca, and hit the buzzer beater at the end of regulation against MTSU, which Belmont would go on to lose.

The Atlanta native scored a season-high 33 points vs. Middle Tennessee, which included eight 3-point field goals and 7-for-7 to open. Sheppard’s eighth 3-pointer was the dramatic shot to force overtime.

Sheppard ranks among MVC leaders in seven statistical categories, including second in points per game (20.6), fifth in field goal percentage (.497), sixth in assists per game (3.6) and eighth in steals per game (1.5).

The senior was school’s top scorer last season and is on the same path this year as he looks to help mentor a lot of young talent at Belmont. He and teammate Drew Friberg, who transferred from Princeton, are the nation’s top 3-point shooting duo (through games played Dec. 11).

Belmont returns to action when they head to Chattanooga on Dec. 18.

Steven Boero