OWENSBORO, Ky.—The 2009-10 Bellarmine University men's basketball season came to a screeching halt on Sunday afternoon as the No. 19 Knights fell to Quincy University 66-61 in an NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Semifinal at the Sportscenter.
Holding a seven-point halftime lead, Bellarmine came out slow in the second half, allowing Quincy to score 11 of the first 13 points to take a lead which they never fully relinquished off a Billy Baptist layup with 16:04 to play.
Bellarmine cut the deficit to one with 24 seconds remaining, and after a pair of Mookie Pierre free throws for the Hawks, Jeremy Kendle had a layup blocked by Baptist down the left side of the paint, all but ending the game.
“In the first eight minutes of the second half, we only had three deflections, and that is when they made their run on us,” Bellarmine Head Coach Scott Davenport said.
Kendle led Bellarmine in scoring with 17 points off 6-of-16 shooting. Justin Benedetti contributed 12 points for the Knights, while Braydon Hobbs tallied 11 to go with his seven assists.
Quincy connected on nine of their 17 three-point field goals for 53 percent. Bellarmine, in turn, made nine of their 25 attempts from long range, while getting outrebounded 32-25.
The loss was the final game for seniors Kevin Allen, Doug Davenport, Oladapo Fagbenle, Andrew Parks, Steve Pogue, and Mark Veith. The four-year seniors (Allen, Davenport, and Veith) collected a remarkable 78 wins throughout their playing career.
“This loss takes nothing away from everything this group has accomplished,” Davenport said. “That includes the first outright GLVC Championship in school history. They represent the school, the alumni, everyone associated with the university, and the city of Louisville very well. All six will earn their degree from this school.”
Bellarmine ends their season with a 23-9 record, and their second consecutive 20-plus win season, a school record. Quincy (22-8) advances to Tuesday night's regional championship game to face either Grand Valley State University or St. Joseph's College.
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