ROLLA, Mo.—The No. 3 Bellarmine Knights got a dunk just three seconds into the game and never trailed as they enjoyed an 80-50 romp over Missouri S&T this afternoon in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Billy Key Court.

Keisten Jones poured in 19 to lead all scorers as all five Bellarmine starters scored in double digits.  Braydon Hobbs recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. The starting five accumulated their statistics in abbreviated time as Coach Scott Davenport went to the bench early with Chris Dowe playing the most minutes with 27.

“This was a tremendous effort,” said Davenport. “We were solid from top to bottom.  That will make for a very, very nice trip back home.”

After S&T got a bucket to tie the score at 2-2, the Knights got a little separation and just kept pulling away and led 45-26 at the half.  Missouri S&T's Tommy Pelczynski  scored the opening bucket of the second half to pull the Miners to within 17, but that would be as close as the home team could get as the Knights continued to run their offense to near perfection. Bellarmine's largest lead of the game coincided with the final score as Corbin Maynard nailed a three with 18 seconds remaining to supply the game's last points.

The Knights continued their stellar offensive play hitting 29 of 47 field goal attempts for 61.7 percent and were 8-of-17 from long range (47.1 percent).  The efficiency also is evident in their assist total as 22 of the Knights' 29 baskets came off of assists.

Defensively, Bellarmine also put up good numbers by holding S&T to just 37 percent shooting and winning the battle of the backboards by a 32-24 margin.

Missouri S&T (2-13, 1-6 GLVC) was led by Carlton Westbrook with 13 points.

The Knights improve to 13-1 on the season, which ties last year's national championship squad for second best 14-game start in school history (the 2008-09 Knights started 14-0). Bellarmine also pulled into a tie for second in the GLVC East as the No. 8 Northern Kentucky Norse fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with an 83-72 loss at Drury.  Kentucky Wesleyan stayed atop the GLVC standings with a 72-63 win at William Jewell to improve to 14-0, 6-0 GLVC.

Bellarmine now has another short break before hosting Northern Kentucky on a rare Monday night GLVC game. Throughout the league teams are facing their “travel partners” so that sets up two big time Division II matches.  Not only does No. 3 Bellarmine face No. 8 NKU, just down I-64 the No. 7 Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles face the No. 2 Panthers of KWC.

Knights fans are being asked to wear white on Monday to show their support and “white out” the Norse. Game time is set for 8 p.m.

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