LOUISVILLE, KY—The Bellarmine University men's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack to derail Maryville University, 86-67, on Saturday afternoon in front of 905 fans at Knights Hall.

Bellarmine (16-7, 9-5 GLVC) had five players score in double figures, led by Luke Sprague's 17 points and five rebounds.  Sprague connected on three of four opportunities from beyond the three-point line, and added five rebounds.

The Knights trailed by one point at halftime, thanks to a 59.3 percent shooting effort by Maryville.  The Saints drained eight of 13 threes in the half for a staggering 61.5 percent.  Bellarmine's defense cooled them off in the second period, as Maryville finished the game at 44.6 percent.

“To allow (Maryville) to shoot that well in the first half was disturbing to me,” Bellarmine Head Coach Scott Davenport said.

Justin Benedetti (15), Jeremy Kendle (14), Kevin Allen (12), and Chris Dowe (10) were the other Bellarmine players to tally double digits in points.

Braydon Hobbs led all players with nine assists, while Oladapo Fagbenle pulled down a team-high six reboubnds.  The Knights outrebounded Maryville 36-27 for the game.

“(Fagbenle) did so many things that don't show up on the stat sheet, but help you win championships,” Davenport said.  From setting screens to his low-post play and blocking out, he was key in this game.”

Maryville (2-21, 0-14 GLVC) was led by Tyler Saxton's 25 points off nine of 16 shooting from the field.  Steven Gallian led all players with eight rebounds, and Mike Ford had four assists.

Bellarmine moves into a critical final stretch of the season, beginning Thursday night with a home contest against Northern Kentucky University, who the Knights beat 74-69 in front of a national television audience on January 23.

“Every game from this point forward, our NCAA Tournament berth is on the line,” Davenport said.

Tipoff for Thursday's game is scheduled for 8 p.m.