LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Bellarmine University's Braydon Hobbs scored a career high 27 points to help lead his Knights team to an 85-77 overtime victory over Northern Kentucky tonight in a Great Lakes Valley Conference men's basketball game in Knights Hall.
The game was well played and close throughout, with neither team holding a double digit lead until Bellarmine surged ahead 83-73 in the last stages of the game after the Norse were forced to foul to stop the clock. Both teams shot the ball very well as the Knights hit 27 of 46 from the field for 58.7 percent, and the Norse connected on 28 of 55 for 50.9 percent.
“That was a great college basketball game tonight,” said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport. “And that was one courageous team wearing those Bellarmine uniforms tonight,” he added, commenting on the heart the Bellarmine players showed by playing through injuries and other adversity.
The game opened with NKU taking a slim lead and holding the lead until the last play of the first half when Bellarmine's Luke Sprague drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to knot the score at 29 at the break.
A short jumper by Hobbs gave Bellarmine its first lead shortly after play resumed in the second half, and the two GLVC foes battled back and forth the rest of the game. Both teams held brief five-point leads in the second stanza that featured six ties and six lead changes.
The overtime period was created when NKU's David Palmer connected on 3-pointer with just seven seconds remaining in regulation and Bellarmine's Chris Dowe misfired on his last second attempt.
In the extra period, Bellarmine gained first possession and took full advantage as Dowe canned a 3-pointer after the Norse defense didn't contest the shot. The Knights never surrendered the lead as Bellarmine connected on 10 of 12 free throws in the overtime period to help keep the Norse at bay.
Hobbs was the clear leader for the Knights as last years' GLVC Freshman of the Year connected on eight of 12 shots and 10 of 13 free throws to total 27 points. The New Albany native also dished out seven assists on the night. Bellarmine also got double digit scoring from Sprague (16), Benedetti (15), Jeremy Kendle (14) and Dowe (10).
For the Norse, it was Palmer--the reigning GLVC Player of the Week—who led the way with 26 points on nine of 10 shooting including three of three from beyond the arc.
The Knights improve to 17-7, 10-5 (GLVC) while Northern falls to 13-11, 6-9.
Bellarmine gets a rare Saturday off before traveling to Indianapolis to take on the Greyhounds on Monday, Feb. 15. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Knights close out the regular season with home games on Thursday against No. 8 Kentucky Wesleyan and on Saturday against No. 2 Southern Indiana.
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