ST. LOUIS--The No. 2 Bellarmine University Knights used a 14-0 run to close the first half and cruised to a 76-56 victory over the Maryville University Saints tonight in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Moloney Arena.

The host Saints opened up a quick 9-4 lead to start the game, but Bellarmine quickly made up the five point spread and tied it at 9-9 with 15:30 remaining in the opening period.

Geral Shaw nailed a triple at the 7:35 mark of the first half to give the Saints a 22-21 lead, but that would the final points of the opening stanza for Maryville as Bellarmine held the hosts scoreless while reeling off 14 to take a 35-22 lead into intermission.

Bellarmine extended the lead to 25 points at the 11:02 mark and coasted to the 76-56 victory.

Jeremy Kendle led four Bellarmine double-figure scorers with 18, and Braydon Hobbs--who chipped in 10 points--led the Knights with eight rebounds and five assists.

Maryville's Asa Toney led all scorers with 22 points on 8-14 shooting including 6-11 from long range.

Despite the 20-point win, Coach Scott Davenport was not satisfied with the Bellarmine effort tonight. "We were very sloppy tonight," the sixth year coach said. "We turned the ball over 18 times with no defensive pressure applied to us."

Bellarmine improves to 20-1 on the season, marking the third consecutive year the Knights have eclipsed the 20-win plateau, which sets a new school record.  The Knights also remained unbeaten in conference play with a 13-0 record.

Maryville falls to 5-15, 2-11.

The Knights return to action Sunday at 3 p.m. (ET) as they travel to Rolla, Mo., to take on Missouri S&T.

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