SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Justin Benedetti scored 21 points, and Jeremy Kendle added 20 as the No. 2 Bellarmine University men's basketball team defeated Midwestern State University 70-64 in an NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal at the MassMutual Center.
Bellarmine advances to Thursday night's national semifinals, where they will match up with Minnesota State University-Mankato. Tip time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“It was an unbelievable college basketball game,” Bellarmine Head Coach Scott Davenport said. “These young men, on both sides, competed to the maximum. We were the fortunate ones to advance.”
The Knights took the lead for good with 4:46 to play in the game. Chris Dowe picked off a Michael Loyd pass, shoved the ball to Nick Holmes, whose emphatic two-handed dunk gave the Knights a 59-58 edge. Bellarmine continued to roll with a forced shot clock violation and three more free throws before a Dowe pass into the middle of the lane was scooped by Kendle, who banked in a runner, giving BU a 64-58 edge.
The Knights were outrebounded 29-24 for the game, but managed to outscore the Mustangs 17-12 on second-chance points. Kendle led the victorious side with eight rebounds, while Braydon Hobbs had a team-high five assists. Hobbs finished with two points, a season-low, before fouling out with 2:43 to play.
“Since we started recruiting him as a junior in high school, I've never seen (Hobbs) come close to fouling out,” Davenport said. “I think their quickness got the best of us today. Good basketball players rebound and defend, and Braydon did an extraordinary job of having the five assists that got us the win.”
Midwestern State's Chris Hagan scored a game-high 24 points off 10-22 shooting. Hagan left the game with an apparent ankle injury at the 13:51 mark in the second half with the Mustangs holding a 50-47 advantage, but returned to the contest shortly thereafter.
A six-point deficit loomed over Bellarmine with 2:32 to play in the first half. Benedetti responded with a pair of layups to cut the halftime lead to two, the second straight game the Knights found themselves trailing at intermission.
“At halftime, our starting frontcourt had a total of one rebound,” Davenport noted. “We did a much better job in containment in the second half, and we had to finish defensive possessions in order to get the ball back. Ultimately, that was the difference in the game.”
“I thought we spaced better in the second half,” Kendle said. “Once we started getting the ball in transition, things started opening more for us.”
Bellarmine started the game by allowing the first seven points of the contest before taking a timeout. On the ensuing possession, Luke Sprague got the Knights on the board with a jumper from the left elbow. Hagan gave the Mustangs their largest lead of the game at 10-2 with a deep three-pointer just 2:14 into the game.
The Knights inched closer throughout the half, and tied the game at 19 with 10:45 remaining after a five-point flurry. Kendle banked in a jumper from the paint, and Dowe managed to steal the inbounds pass, drive in for a layup, and draw a foul on MSU's David Terrell.
Sprague's baseline jumper from the right side gave BU its first lead of the contest at 21-19. Sprague also tied the game again at 25 with a fast break layup.
The support from Bellarmine fans far and wide was felt by the coaches and players.
“(Bellarmine president) Dr. McGowan shared some pictures from the party at Frazier Hall, and it was filled to the rafters. We are thrilled for that and we cannot thank them enough. And the people who came up here, including the students who spent 20 hours on a bus to watch us play makes me the luckiest guy in the world, coaching these young men.”
Box Score
