Belmont’s standout player, Malik Dia, showcased an impressive performance, contributing 22 points and securing 10 rebounds. As a result, Belmont progresses to the next round, where they will confront the fourth-seeded Northern Iowa on Friday at 2:30 p.m. Dia’s remarkable dunk against Valparaiso on Thursday, March 7, 2024, played a pivotal role in Belmont’s victory in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.