LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Playing for the first time after an 18-day layoff, the No. 4 Bellarmine University Knights fought off a sluggish first half and posted a 65-50 victory over the visiting Quincy Hawks in the Knights' Great Lakes Valley Conference opener Thursday night in Knights Hall.

Sophomore Jake Thelen, a transfer from Spring Hill College, posted his first double-double at Bellarmine with 22 points and 10 rebounds to help keep the Knights undefeated on the season and extend their home winning streak to 26 games.

After racing out to 12-2 lead over the first 4:06, the Knights struggled offensively the rest of the way as the Hawks fought back to take a 25-21 lead into the locker room.  Bellarmine committed 11 first half turnovers and totaled only three assists in the first 20 minutes and compounded their problems by going 0-7 from beyond the arc.

Bellarmine slowly turned things around in the second period.  After Quincy's Tyler Thompson opened the half by canning a jumper to give the Hawks their biggest lead of the game, the Knights chipped away and finally retook the lead at the 14:22 mark on a bucket by Chris Dowe.

The jumper served as a jump start for Dowe, who scored 12 points over the next seven minutes as Bellarmine went on a 20-5 run to put the game away.  The lead grew to as many as 18 at the 4:13 mark, and from there, the Knights coasted home to record the 15-point victory.

“Offensively, we didn't accomplish any of our goals,” said Bellarmine Coach Scott Davenport, “but defensively we hit all of them.”  The eighth year coach added that he was happy to have the Christmas break behind him. “I think we do better when we have a regular routine, and we play a Thursday-Saturday schedule from here out.”

The defensive numbers for Bellarmine included holding the Hawks to just 33 percent shooting and owning a commanding 43-25 advantage in rebounds.  The Knights also limited Quincy to just two 3-pointers.

Offensively, Bellarmine was led by Thelen's game-high 22 points and Dowe finished with 19 points and six assists.  For Quincy, only Chris Babbitt reached double figures with 14.

The Knights improve to 9-0 (1-0 GLVC) while Quincy falls to 6-4 (1-1 GLVC). 

Bellarmine stays at home for a Saturday matchup with Illinois-Springfield out of the GLVC West Division.  Tip is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.

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