HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.—The No. 4 Bellarmine Knights advanced to the final four of the NCAA Division II National Championship with a thrilling 82-73 come-from-behind victory over the No. 2 Alabama-Huntsville Chargers tonight in front of 4,281 fans at the Bank of Kentucky Center on the campus of Northern Kentucky University.
The Chargers surged out to a 41-32 halftime behind 54.2 percent first half shooting and converting all 11 of their free throws. The Knights struggled in the opening half shooting just 41.4 percent including just 4-of 14 from long range.
The second half was a completely different story as Bellarmine stormed out of the gates with a quick 6-1 spurt to open the final period. The flurry, 3-pointers by Chris Dowe and Luke Sprague sandwiching a UAH free throw, put Bellarmine right back in it, and the Knights never took their foot off the accelerator the rest of the way. Bellarmine scorched the nets with 70 percent second half shooting while their defense put the clamps on UAH, holding the Chargers to just 12 of 30 shooting in the second period, which included just four of 18 3-point attempts.
Bellarmine overtook the Chargers just 2:57 into the second half and eventually built a 10-point lead at 67-57 at the 8:06 mark. However, the Chargers battled back and after the Knights missed two missed front ends of the one and one and committed a turnover, UAH whittled the Bellarmine margin to just one on a Jaime Smith trey at the 3:12 mark.
Dowe answered for the Knights converting an old-fashioned 3-point play.
Smith again pulled the Chargers back to within in one as he drew a foul while shooting a triple—the third time in the game he was awarded three free throws, and as he did the first two times, the UAH sharpshooter drained all three charity tosses.
On Bellarmine's ensuing possession, Richie Phares was whistled for a charge, and the Chargers converted on the other end to take a 1-point lead, 73-72, with just 2:25 remaining.
Bellarmine answered quickly, as Braydon Hobbs found a cutting Jelani Johnson for a wide open layup to regain the lead. After the Chargers misfired on a three, Bellarmine took it the other way with Jeremy Kendle drawing a foul and nailing both free throws to put the Knights up 76-73.
Dowe came up with a steal on UAH's next possession and was fouled. The junior hit one of two free throws to give Bellarmine a 4-point lead with just 1:03 remaining.
The Chargers' Josh Magette appeared to have an easy layup on the other end, but Hobbs swooped in from the weak side to come up with a big block to deny the UAH All-American.
UAH was then forced to foul and shoot 3-pointers the final 50 seconds. The Knights closed by hitting five of six from the line and holding the Chargers scoreless as Bellarmine ended the game on a 10-0 run.
Dowe led the Knights with his third straight double-double collecting 24 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Kendle poured in 23, and Hobbs handed out seven assists and came up with five steals as the Knights got another outstanding team performance.
Alabama-Huntsville, which saw its 20-game win streak come to an end, was led by Zane Campbell with a game-high 26 points, and Smith added 24. Magette, the nation's assist leader, dished out 10 on the night.
For Bellarmine, the victory didn't come without a price. While the Knights were pleased to welcome Sprague back into the lineup, they lost Keisten Jones with a knee injury. Just 9:39 into the game, Jones went high for a rebound but was undercut and fouled by Smith, causing Jones to fall awkwardly and dislocate his kneecap. It is doubtful the sophomore will return to action on Thursday night.
The Knights move to 29-3 on the season while the Chargers end their season 29-4.
Bellarmine will face the University of Montevallo in the national semifinal game, who slid past Metropolitan State 67-65 in the evening session's second game.
The Bellarmine-Montevallo game is scheduled to tip at 9:30 p.m. after the other semifinal which pits Stonehill against Western Washington. Both games will be aired on the CBS College Sports television network.
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