LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Bellarmine University men's basketball team saw a 19-point second half lead evaporate before rallying late for a 79-73 victory over the Lewis Flyers in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Knights Hall.
The Knights built a 14-point halftime lead by holding Lewis to just 29 percent shooting while connecting on 45 percent of their own shots and went to the locker room with a 41-27 advantage. Bellarmine started the second half on fire and jumped out to a 19-point lead as sophomore
Luke Sprague poured in five consecutive points, prompting Lewis to call a timeout to collect themselves.
The Flyers gradually worked their way back in the game and took a 2-point lead with 3:50 remaining.
The Lewis lead lasted only 12 seconds as Bellarmine's
Braydon Hobbs drilled a three to put the Knights back on top. After a miss by Lewis,
Justin Benedetti buried another trey for Bellarmine to claim a four point lead with 3:10 left in the game.
Jeremy Kendle capped the Bellarmine mini-run by slamming home two of his 16 points after Benedetti came up with a steal.
The Knights closed the game with solid free throw shooting to earn the six-point victory.
"I was very proud of the way we finished," said Bellarmine Coach
Scott Davenport. "Braydon and J.B. (Benedetti) hit back to back big time shots."
Davenport said the Knights allowed the Flyers back in the game by committing turnovers on three consecutive possessions on what he termed "fundamental mistakes." The fifth year Bellarmine coach added, "To be an outstanding team, we have to learn to improve with a win. I hope we can do that tonight."
Sprague finished the game with a career high 19 points to claim game high honors. Joining him in double digits for the Knights were Kendle with 16, Hobbs with 15, and Benedetti with 13.
The Flyers were paced by Justin Jarosz with 16 and Chris McClellan with 14.
Bellarmine improves to 9-4 (2-2 GLVC) with the victory, while Lewis falls to 9-4 (1-3 GLVC).
The Knights are back in action Thursday night as they travel to Kansas City to take on Rockhurst in a GLVC contest. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m.
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