LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Bellarmine University men's basketball team got 2010 started off on the right foot by defeating the University of Wisconsin-Parkside 82-75 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference home opener for the Knights.

Bellarmine, which improved to 8-4 (1-2 GLVC), got a big game from Jeffersonville, Ind. native Jeremy Kendle, who scored a career high 27 points and led the team in rebounds with eight.  

"The win tonight was a team effort," said Bellarmine Head Coach Scott Davenport.  "They (the Bellarmine players) understand the value of their teammates.  So the game tonight wasn't just about Jeremy Kendle just getting shots, it was about Jeremy Kendle getting other people shots and getting after people on defense."

Bellarmine opened up the game on a 10-0 spurt, but the Rangers dug their heels in and refused to be blown out in Knights Hall.  And when they scored the final six points of the first half, Parkside went to the locker room just down seven at 37-30.

After the break, Parkside trimmed the lead to just three on several occasions, but each time Bellarmine found an answer and eventually built a 15-point advantage at the 5:14 mark.  

The Knights, which were again without the services of Nick Holmes due to an injury, got a spark from Kevin Allen, who came off the bench to contribute 12 points in 16 minutes of action. Bellarmine also got solid play from the center position as  Oladapo Fagbenle earned Coach Davenport's praise after the game while leading the team in assists with five.

Wisconsin-Parkside, which slipped to 6-6 (1-2 GLVC) on the season, were led by Zach Blesich, who came off the bench to score 20 points.

Bellarmine returns to action on Monday night when they host the Flyers of Lewis University in another GLVC tilt.  Game is set for 8 p.m. in Knights Hall.

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